In July of 2002, Dr. Robert Moellering, Jr., Chairman, Department of Medicine, BIDMC, appointed Dr. Raghu Kalluri as the Director for the Center of Matrix Biology, based in the Department of Medicine. The primary mission of this program is to consolidate all of the matrix biology research activities in the Department of Medicine and possibly in other Departments under one programmatic activity. Such activity will identify possible future program project and center grant applications. Additionally it will foster a collaborative atmosphere for like-minded investigators with central interest in matrix biology. This program will also launch a monthly seminar series and an annual retreat for the members of the program. This program is supported by a grant from Department of Medicine and also space committment to Dr. Kalluri.
Raghu Kalluri: The primary interest in my laboratory is the study of structure, function and role in health and disease of basement membranes and extracellular matrix. The major themes in in our laboratory include:
1. Structure and assembly of basement membranes.
2. Assembly of type IV collagen and Laminin
3. Organ Fibrosis
3. Biology of Angiogenesis
4. Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Progression
5. Cancer Metastasis
4. Vascular permeability
5. Genetic and acquired renal diseases involving basement membranes
6. Stem Cell Biology and Therapy
7. System Biology Approach to the study of the role of Matrix in health and disease
90. Sund, M, Hamano, Y, Sugimoto, H, Sudhakar, A, Soubasakos, M, Yerramalla, U, Benjamin L, E., Lawler, J, Kieran, M, Shah, A, and Kalluri, R. The Function of Endogenous Inhibitors of Angiogenesis as Endothelium-Specific Tumor Suppressors. Proc, Natl. Acad. Sci. 2005; 102: 2934-9.
External Recognition:
1998 Carl Gottschalk Award-American Society of Nephrology
1998 Joseph Murray Award-National Kidney Foundation
2005 Young Investigator Award-American Society of Nephrology
Major Collaborative Activities:
Faculty, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
Faculty, HMS Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Member,Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center
Faculty, Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital Boston
Member, Harvard Digestive Diseases Group
Member, Harvard Stem Cell Institute
