Lisa Ann Cirillo

Lisa Ann Cirillo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy (CBNA) at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she also serves as Assistant Dean for Basic Science Curriculum. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying liver development and function, particularly the role of chromatin structure in regulating gene expression. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1996) and completed postdoctoral training at Brown University and Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Her laboratory investigates how forkhead transcription factors like FoxO1 remodel chromatin to enable gene expression critical for liver metabolism and development. Key areas include insulin-regulated genes, hepatic differentiation using human induced pluripotent stem cells, and epigenetic interactions between transcription factors. Techniques employed include chromatin immunoprecipitation, nucleosome analysis, and cellular modeling systems.

Dr. Cirillo’s work bridges basic science and clinical application, addressing metabolic disorders and liver pathologies through mechanistic studies of chromatin regulation. Her contributions have advanced understanding of transcription factor cooperation, post-translational modification effects on chromatin binding, and viral-host interactions involving histone dynamics.