Joanne Curran, PhD

Research Focus

Dr. Curran’s research focuses on identifying and characterizing susceptibility genes for disease conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and related complications in large pedigree-based studies, with the ultimate objective of gaining an insight into the biological pathways involved in disease pathogenesis. She has extensive experience with high-throughput genomic technologies and applying those to help understand the genetic underpinnings of disease. As a Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on NIH-funded and industry-funded projects, she has continued to significantly enhance her expertise in high-throughput genomics. Her research efforts have been directed towards assessment of the human lipidome and its relationship to disease, using genome-wide lipid measures as endophenotypes for metabolic related diseases. In collaborations with colleagues from Australia, more than 800 species of lipids have been quantified in 2,500 Mexican-American individuals. These studies have resulted in the identification of specific roles for several lipid species in diseases such as CVD, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder and major depression. Using these lipids and available whole genome sequencing data, she is now identifying novel genes and functional variants that influence both lipid metabolism and disease development.

Most recently, Dr. Curran has developed a strong interest in environmental exposures, their influence on human health, and the investigation of human genotype-by-environment interaction. Working with a strong research team here at UTRGV, the team is investigating the genetic basis to cellular stress response to different environmental exposures common in South Texas, such as rattlesnake venom and air pollution. Additionally, Dr. Curran is working with colleagues to investigate the molecular and cellular pathways disrupted in response to plastic compound exposure and the mechanisms behind metabolic disease development.