Miles Pufall

Miles Pufall, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. He is a primary faculty member and leads the Pufall Laboratory, which investigates the structural and biophysical basis of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling in gene regulation and leukemia. He is affiliated with multiple graduate programs, including Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Medicine, and the Medical Scientist Training Program, and is a member of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing.

Research Interests:

• Structural basis of transcription factor function
• Glucocorticoid receptor signaling in cancer
• DNA-protein interactions and gene regulation
• Signal transduction in leukemia
• Development of targeted therapies for glucocorticoid-resistant cancers
• Biophysical and computational modeling of protein-DNA dynamics

His research integrates structural biology, molecular pharmacology, and genomics to understand how signals and DNA sequences fine-tune GR conformation and activity. The lab's work has significant implications for treating childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), particularly in cases resistant to glucocorticoid therapy.

Publication Trends: Dr. Pufall’s recent publications span structural biology, cancer pharmacology, transcriptional regulation, and computational genomics. His work frequently explores how transcription factors interact with DNA and chromatin, how signaling pathways modulate receptor function, and how these mechanisms can be targeted therapeutically in leukemia and endometrial cancer. There is a strong emphasis on experimental methods such as ChIP, mouse models, and biophysical assays, often combined with bioinformatics and deep learning approaches.

Scientific Awards:

Advising and Grants: Dr. Pufall mentors graduate students through multiple interdisciplinary training programs at the University of Iowa. His research is supported by collaborations with cancer centers and external funding, likely from NIH and foundations such as the V Foundation, with whom his lab partners to find leukemia cures. While specific grants are not listed, his active publication record and leadership of a dedicated research lab indicate sustained funding and mentorship activities.

Labs and Teams: The Pufall Laboratory is based in the Bowen Science Building at the University of Iowa. The lab collaborates widely across disciplines, including pharmacology, oncology, computational biology, and endocrinology. They are actively engaged in projects related to transcriptional regulation, drug response in cancer, and structural mechanisms of nuclear receptors.