معرفی
Paula Traktman is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Her research focuses on molecular virology, particularly the vaccinia virus, with emphasis on DNA replication, repair mechanisms, and membrane biogenesis. She also studies protein kinases and phosphatases involved in cell biology and oncogenesis, with a specific interest in breast cancer pathogenesis. Her work bridges virology, cancer biology, and cellular signaling, leveraging both fundamental and translational approaches.
Key research areas include understanding vaccinia virus replication cycles, viral protein functions, and host-pathogen interactions. Her lab investigates the role of VRK1 kinase in cancer progression and cellular processes such as mitosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transitions. She has contributed to defining the roles of vaccinia virus proteins in virion assembly, DNA repair, and host immune evasion.
Dr. Traktman collaborates on projects involving drug discovery using iPSC-derived hepatocytes and explores innovative science communication strategies for trainees. Her lab is located at 68 President Street (BE-101 and DD-228 lab), MUSC. Her work has been supported by grants focusing on poxvirus biology and breast cancer mechanisms, though specific grant details are not detailed in the provided texts.
Education and training include a PhD in virology or related field (details not explicitly stated). She advises students in molecular virology and cancer biology, though specific advisee names are not listed. Her research has led to over 90 publications, with recent work emphasizing vaccinia virus life cycles, DNA repair pathways, and VRK1's role in cancer and cellular processes.
