Wolfgang Zacharias, PhD

Professor of Medicine; Director, Microarray Core Facility, James Graham Brown Cancer Center

Research Program
Molecular Targets

Education

M.S., University of Marburg, Germany; Chemistry, 1974
Ph.D., University of Marburg, Germany, Biochemistry, 1980

Research and Professional Experience
1971-1973
Teaching Assistant, chemistry courses for chemistry and medical students; University of Marburg, Germany

1973-1980
Graduate student, Department of Chemistry, Division of Biochemistry, University of Marburg, Germany

1979 - 1980
Instructor, chemistry lab courses for biology students; University of Marburg, Germany

1980 - 1982
Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

1982 - 1985
Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

1985 - 1992
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1992 - 1997
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1986 - 2000
Associate Scientist, Multipurpose Arthritis Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1997-2000
Associate Scientist, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham

1997-2000
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

2000-2007
Associate Professor, Departments of Me

Research Interest
The focus of our research is on tobacco-induced cancers like oral and lung cancer. Many of these invasive carcinomas exhibit increased expression and altered subcellular localization of cathepsin proteases usually stored inside intracellular lysosomes. The general aim is to investigate molecular events and contributing factors leading to protease-mediated tumor progression and metastasis, and to understand the contributions of lysosomes in apoptosis versus survival mechanisms in such malignant cells. Ultimately, this may assist in developing novel therapeutic modalities to inhibit tobacco-initiated cancer progression and metastasis formation.

Publications

Vigneswaran N, Zhao W, Dasanayake A, Muller S, Miller DM, Zacharias W. Variable expression of cathepsin B and D correlates with highly invasive and metastatic phenotype of oral cancer. Human Pathol