Lin Research Lab

Richard Z. Lin, MD

• Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Renaissance School of Medicine

Office: (631) 444-1638

Email: Richard.Lin@sunysb.edu

Stony Brook University
Basic Science Tower, T-6, Room 180
Stony Brook, NY, 11794-8661

Research Program

• Lipid Signaling and Metabolism in Cancer 

Department

• Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Research Interest

My laboratory studies the physiological functions and pathological roles of PI3Ks. This family of lipid kinases produces the intracellular second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate that regulates diverse cellular functions. We are currently investigating two research aims: (1) the role of PI3K in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer, and (2) the role of PI3K in regulating the function of cardiac ion channels.

Abnormal upregulation of PI3K signaling is one of the most common oncogenic contributors across human cancers. We discovered that the p110α isoform of PI3K is essential for the initiation of pancreatic cancer driven by oncogenic Kras (Wu et al., Gastroenterology, 2014). Current studies explore the role of p110α in the maintenance and progression of pancreatic cancer.

We also reported that downregulation of p110α signaling—through drug inhibition or diabetic conditions—alters multiple ion currents in cardiac myocytes, resulting in QT interval prolongation on the ECG (Lu et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2012). QT prolongation increases the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias. We are now investigating how PI3K signaling regulates cardiac ion channel function.

Education

• A.B., Columbia University, 1984
• M.D., UCSF, 1988
• MPH, UC Berkeley, 1987
• M.S., Stanford University, 1990

Publications

• A complete list of publications can be found HERE .