Roger F. Duncan

Roger F. Duncan serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Southern California's Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he has maintained an active faculty position since 1987 following postdoctoral research at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the University of California, Davis. His academic foundation includes a PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (1978) and an AB from the University of California, San Diego.

Education:

• PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1978
• AB, University of California, San Diego

Research Focus: Dr. Duncan's work centers on molecular mechanisms of cellular stress responses, with pioneering investigations into translational regulation during heat shock and oxidative stress. His research demonstrates how heat shock proteins (Hsps) like Hsp90 and Hsp70 utilize distinct translation pathways independent of canonical eIF4E mechanisms, revealing novel insights into stress-adaptive protein synthesis. He further explores kinase-mediated signaling cascades (TOR, MAPK, JNK) in mitochondrial apoptosis and viral translation resistance, bridging pharmacology with fundamental cell biology.

Publication Analysis: His 2002-2008 publications exhibit consistent expertise in stress-induced translational control, characterized by meticulous dissection of Hsp mRNA regulation under pharmacological and thermal challenges. Key patterns include the discovery of rapamycin's differential effects on Hsp isoforms, interferon resistance mechanisms in HCV, and JNK's role in mitochondrial apoptosis—highlighting his interdisciplinary approach spanning pharmacology, molecular biology, and virology.

Awards and Recognition: No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials.