John Kolega Ph.D.

John Kolega

John Kolega
Ph.D.

Associate Professor / Graduate Program Director

Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Cardiovascular Disease; Cytoskeleton and cell motility; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Molecular Basis of Disease

Contact Information
Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences
Jacobs School Room 4258
955 Main St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 829-3527
Fax: (716) 829-2725
kolega@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

My primary research interest is the behavior of endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of blood vessels and are key players in the remodeling events that occur during wound healing, aneurysm formation, tumor growth, and a wide variety of disease conditions. There are two questions about endothelial behavior that drive most of the research in my laboratory:
(1) How does an endothelial cell migrate during wound healing and blood-vessel remodeling? We are particularly interested in the motor protein, myosin II, and how it exerts force within the cytoskeleton to push or pull the cell as it moves. In order to study the organization and movements of cytoskeletal proteins - and not just there biochemical properties - we use a variety of light microscopic methods to examine the dynamics and biochemistry of cytoskeletal proteins in living migrating endothelial cells. We also use conventional biochemical, genetic, and pharmacological manipulations to investigate the regulatory events that control myosin II behavior in situ.
(2) How do endothelial cells sense and respond to their mechanical environment?
Blood vessels remodel to accommodate long-term changes in blood flow. Certain flow environments can cause destructive remodeling that leads to cerebral aneurysms (local “ballooning” of vessels). Working with biomedical engineers in the laboratory of Dr. Hui Meng at the Toshiba Stroke Research Center, we use cell culture and whole animal systems to examine how endothelial cells respond to specific hemodynamic micro-environments in order to understand the mechanism and regulation of flow-induced remodeling, especially as it relates to cerebral aneurysms.
A third interest is understanding the response of cultured endothelial cells to electrical fields, which have been shown to orient endothelial migration in vitro and to suppress edema in vivo by enhancing the endothelial permeability barrier.

Education and Training:

  • PhD, Cell Biology, Yale University (1984)
  • Biology, Yale University (1981)
  • BA, Life Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1978)
  • BS, Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1978)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, Univeristy of Buffalo, State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2001-present)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Laboratory for Developmental Biology and Anomalies, National Institutes of Health National Institute for Dental Research
  • Assistant Professor, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Buffalo, State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2000–2001)
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Buffalo, State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1998–2000)
  • Assistant Professor, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Buffalo, State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1993–1998)
  • Special Research Faculty, Center for Light Microscope Imaging and Biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon University - (1992–1993)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Center for Light Microscope Imaging and Biotechnology, Carnegie Mellon University Faculty of Arts and Letters (1989–1992)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Dermatology, New York University Medical Center Medicine (1985–1989)
  • Technical Collaborator, -, Brookhaven National Laboratory - (1978)
  • Technical Collaborator, -, Brookhaven National Laboratory - (1977)

Awards and Honors:

  • Didaskalos Award (2011)

Research Expertise:

  • Cell Biology: Cytoskeletal regulation and mechanism in cell migration. Endothelial cell biology.
  • Cell Biology: Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility
  • Gross Anatomy: back and extremeties
  • Vascular Biology: endothelial signaling, vessel wall remodeling

Research Centers:

  • Toshiba Stroke Research Center

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

  • Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • August 2019–July 2021
    SBIR Phase II “A Blood-Based Test to Identify Patients with Intracranial Aneurysm”
    Neurovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $24,891
  • July 2020–June 2021
    University at Buffalo’s Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences Total (UBCAT) “Molecular Markers for Dangerous Intracranial Aneurysms”
    Neurovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $17,387
  • July 2018–December 2018
    Additional work related to SBIR 1746694: A Blood-Based Test to Identify Patients with Intracranial Aneurysm
    UB-SBIA
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $12,983
  • January 2018–June 2018
    A Blood-Based Test to Identify Patients with Intracranial Aneurysm
    Neurovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $67,761
  • February 2009–February 2014
    Hemodynamic Induction of Pathologic Remodeling Leading to Intracranial Aneurysms
    National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $1,733,595
  • October 2006–July 2007
    Summer Research Institute in Biomedical Materials Science
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $641,554
  • January 2000–December 2002
    Controlling the Direction of Endothelial Migration during Angiogenesis: Cytoskeletal Mechanism and Regulation
    American Heart Association
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $164,923
  • February 1995–January 1998
    Assembly and Regulation of Myosin II in Endothelial Locomotion
    National Science Foundation
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $237,000
  • June 1995–May 1996
    Physical Interventions for Controlling Edema
    State University of New York at Buffalo Provost's Multidisciplinary Research Pilot Project Program
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $20,000
  • June 1995–December 1995
    Multidisciplinary Pilot Project Program:Physical Interventions for Controlling Edema
    Multidisciplinary Pilot Project Program
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $20,000

Journal Articles:

See all (48 more)

Books and Book Chapters:

  • K. Hahn, John Kolega, J. Montibeller, R. DeBiasio, P. Post, J. Myers, D. L. Taylor. (1999) In: Fluorescent analogs: optical biosensors of the chemical and molecular dynamics of macromolecules in living cells. , 554-566.
  • John Kolega, Taylor, D. L. (1991) In: Regulation of actin and myosin II dymamics in living cells. , 187-206.
  • John Kolega. (1986) In: The cellular basis of epithelial morphogenesis. , 103-143.

Professional Memberships:

  • American Heart Association (2000–present)
  • American Heart Association Council (2000–present)
  • The American Association for the Advancement of Science (1991–present)
  • American Society for Cell Biology (1991–present)

Presentations:

  • "Rubbed the Wrong Way: How Hemodynamic Forces Contribute to the Development of Brain Aneurysms" Department of Oral Biology seminar series; UB School of Dental Medicine (2018)

Service Activities:

  • Five-year evaluation of Pathology Master's program at University of Vermont School of Medicine; External Reviewer (2021)
  • review of promotion dossier for Research Associate Professor candidate for the Dept. of Physiology & Biophysics; ad hoc promotion review (2021)
  • Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, Nature Medicine; manuscript review (2020–2021)
  • review of biomedical research grants ofr the Florida Department of Health; review panel member (2019–2020)
  • Director of Graduate Studies for PhD program in Computational Cell Biology, Anatomy & Pathology; Director of Graduate Studies (2017–present)
  • Swiss National Science Foundation; Swiss National Science Foundation: Mobility fellowships;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2014)
  • Academic Calendar Committee, School of Dental Medicine Academic Calendar Committee, School of Dental Medicine; Committee Member (2011–2017)
  • Curriculum Committee, School of Dental Medicine Curriculum Committee, School of Dental Medicine; Committee Member (2010–2017)
  • First Year Committee, School of Dental Medicine First Year Committee, School of Dental Medicine; Committee Member (2009–2017)
  • Phase I Committee, School of Medicine; Committee Member (2009–present)
  • National Cancer Institute; Network of Translational Research: Optical Imaging; National Cancer Institute ad hoc study section CA-03-002: Network of Translational Research: Optical Imaging, 2003;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2003)
  • City University of New York; PSC-CUNY Research Award Program; PSC-CUNY Research Award Program (City University of New York;; External Reviewer (2002–2003)
  • Executive Committee, Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences Executive Committee, Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences; Committee Member (2002–present)
  • Wellcome Trust; Wellcome Trust grant reviews; Wellcome Trust ad hoc grant reviews;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2002–2009)
  • United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation; United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2002)
  • Director of Graduate Studies Director for the Pathology and Anatomical Sciences Master's and PhD programs; Director (2001–present)
  • U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation; NRC COBASE; U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2001)
  • journal peer review ad hoc review for the following journals: Nature; Journal of Cell Biology; Molecular Biology of the Cell; FASEB Journal; Biophysical Journal; American Journal of Physiology; Journal of Vascular Research; Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Cardiovascular Research; Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton; Experimental Cell Research; Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics; Journal of Neurobiology; Journal of the Royal Society Interface; Cell and Molecular Life Sciences; Wound Repair and Regeneration; Neurosurgery; Acta Biomaterialia; Peer Reviewer (2000–2018)
  • National Science Foundation; NSF Cellular Organization program; National Science Foundation (Cellular Organization program) ad hoc grant reviews;; Ad Hoc Reviewer (1999–2008)

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Contact Information

Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences
Jacobs School Room 4258
955 Main St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 829-3527
Fax: (716) 829-2725
kolega@buffalo.edu