Rodrigo Franco Cruz
Professor Vet & Biomedical Sciences University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Contact
- Address
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VBS 210
Lincoln NE 68583-0905 - Phone
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402-472-8547 On-campus 2-8547
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rodrigo.franco@unl.edu
The Franco lab aims to understand the signaling mechanisms by which cellular metabolism, redox homeostasis and signaling regulate cellular fate. Mitochondrial dysfunction, alterations in protein quality control mechanisms and the activation/impairment of cell death pathways (apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy) have been associated with the etiology of human diseases. Energy failure and oxidative stress have been implicated in the induction of cell death, but the molecular mechanisms that link redox homeostasis and cellular metabolism to the activation of cell death pathways remain elusive. We strive to identify those mechanisms and provide and insight into potential therapeutic approaches. Our primary focus are neurotoxicity associated with environmental exposures, neurodegeneration, brain ischemia and cancer.
Education
2004-2009
Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Signal Transduction, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH.
2000-2004
PhD in Sciences (Biomedical sciences). Cell Physiology Institute. National University of Mexico (UNAM)
1996-2000
B.S. in Biology. School of Sciences. National University of Mexico (UNAM)