Meet the Members of the Lab

Principal Investigator

Michelle A. Ozbun, Ph.D.
Professor

Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Member, Center for Infectious Disease and Inflammation

Co-Director - Womens Cancers Program, UNM Cancer Center

The University of New Mexico
School of Medicine
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Lab: Cancer Research Facility 303, 308
Tel: (505) 272-4950
Fax: (505) 272-9912
e-mail: mozbun@salud.unm.edu

Training:

A.S. 1985 Mesa State College (formerly Mesa College)
B.S. 1987 Microbiology/Chemistry Minor, Colorado State University (Barry J. Beaty, Ph.D.)
Ph.D. 1994 Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine (Janet S. Butel, Ph.D.)
Post-doc 1994-1998 Papillomavirus Life Cycle, PennState College of Medicine (Craig Meyers, Ph.D.)

Honors, Patents:

1992 UTMB Cancer Center Award in Oncologic Research, 33rd Annual National Student Research Forum
1995-1997 NIH NRSA F32CA066316 Papillomavirus Vegetative Replication
1996 The Papillomavirus Workshop Award, 15th International Papillomavirus Workshop, Brisbane, Australia
2006 Educational Excellence Award, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
2008 UNM Science and Technology Corporation (STC) Creative Award for issued U.S. Patent #7,285,386
2009 Distinguished Alumna, Mesa State College

2000 U.S. Patent Serial No. 6,110,663: “Methods for Detecting, Titering, and Determining Susceptibility to Papillomavirus”
2007 U.S. Patent Serial No. 7,285,386: “RhPV as a model for HPV-induced cancers”

Current Funding:

NIH NCI R01 (PI): Entry of Oncogenic HPVs into Human Keratinocytes
NIH NIAID U19 (Project and Core Leader): Tissue-Based Models of HPV Infection
NIH NIAID U19 (Project co-Leader with Chackerian): Vaccines that Induce Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies against HPVs
NIH NIAID R21/R33: Identification and Preclinical Testing of Microbicides
NIH NIAID U19: siRNA Microbicides
NIH NCI P30: UNM Cancer Center
NIH NIAID T32 Training Grant (Mentor): Biology of Infectious Diseases and Inflammation
American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant to the University of New Mexico (PI): 2011-2013

Recent Funding:

American Cancer Society: Nitric Oxide & Tobacco as Cofactors with HPV in Cervical Carcinogenesis
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: Human Papillomavirus Infection As A Potential Cause of Breast Cancer

The Stars of the Lab:

"If I have seen farther it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants"

≈ Isaac Newton, the father of physics

Research Scientists, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Students, Technicians - oh my. . .

Recent Group Shots

Winter 2010 - Secret Santa Party

wii party

Fall 2010

wii party

L to R: Sergio, Staci, Aga, Michelle, Kelly, Mickey, Nicole, Sonia, Ioan (not pictured: Ellen, Zurab, Pam, Margie, Tiana, Matti)

Spring 2010, Wii bowling and pot luck

wii party

(historical group shots below)

	Zurab Surviladze, Ph.D. Research Scientist M.S. 1975 Biochemistry, Tbilisi State Univ., Georgian Republic (former Georgian SSR) Ph.D. 1981 Molecular Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow, USSR Hometown: Tbilisi, The Republic of Georgia
	Agnieszka Dziduszko, Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow D.V.M. 2003 (with honors), University of Agriculture in Lublin, Poland Ph.D. 2009 Comparative and Experimental Medicine (Virology), U. Tennessee, Knoxville Hometwon: Rudnik, Poland
	Kelly J. Higgins, Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Fellow B.S. 1996 Biochemistry, B.A. 1996 Chemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM Minor, Molecular Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM Ph.D. 2006 Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Postdoctoral Fellow 2007-08 Biochem. & Molec. Biol., UNM SOM (Dr. Marco Bisoffi) Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
	Sergio A. De Haro, Ph.D. ASERT-IRACDA Post-Doctoral Fellow B.S. 2002 Biochemistry, California State Univeristy, Los Angeles, CA Ph.D. 2009 Biomedical Sciences, Univeristy of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
	Nicole A. Patterson Research Technician B.S. 2003 Biology, The University of New Mexico M.S. Program, Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico 2006 - 11th Annual UNM SOM's Dean's Staff Award. Each year, the Dean appoints five staff including two prior recipients to a committee to initiate the nomination process and select awardees. Up to five staff are honored each year.Hometown: Hometown: Farmington, NM
	Anastacia Maldonado Graduate Student B.S. 2007 Biology (suma cum laude), Minor Chemistry, The University of New Mexico Ph.D.. Program, Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (Fall 2010) Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
	Mickey Kivitz Graduate Student B.S. 2006 Biology Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX Graduate Student Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (Fall 2008) Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
	Sonya Flores Graduate Student B.S. Biology and Spanish (cum laude) from The University of New Mexico Graduate Student Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (Fall 2007) Homeown: Portland, OR
	Ellen Hatch Honors Biochemistry Student Researcher (2010-present) Earning a B.S. in Biochemistry, from The University of New Mexico B.S. Natural Resource Management, Univeristy of Alaska, Fairbanks
	Pamela Barraza Tech and Honors Biochemistry Student Researcher (2010-present) Earning a B.S. in Biochemistry, from The University of New Mexico Hometown: Toluca, Mexico
	Margie Peña IMSD Student Researcher (2010-present) Earning a B.S. in Biochemistry, Pre-Pharm/Ph.D. from The University of New Mexico U.S. Air Force Hometown: Miami, FL
	Ioan Belovarski Student Researcher (2010-present) Earning a B.S. in Biochemistry from The University of New Mexico Hometown:
	Matthew Wetzel Workstudy Tech (2010-present) Earning a B.S. in Biology and Education Hometown: Maroa, IL

Ozbun Lab Alumni

Grad Students and Post-docs

Meena Shrivastav, Ph.D. B.S. 1992 Biology, Lucknow Univeristy, Lucknow (UP), India Ph.D. 2000 Sanjay Gandi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (DNA Repair)
Hebin Song, Ph.D. Bachelor of Medicine 1998 from Beijing Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBoard Certified Pathologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Ph.D. 2009 Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (2003-2009; Ozbun Lab) Research scholarship award at the 22nd Annual Papillomavirus Conference in Vancouver, B.C. Canada Honor of Excellent Graduation Research Thesis, 1998 Beijing Medical University Number-one Scholarships, 1995-1998
Allison Young MARC Program, Undergraduate Student Researcher (Minority Access to Research Careers) program. Earning a B.S. in Biology from The University of New Mexico
Lanlan Wei, M.D., Ph.D. Bachelor of Clinical Medicine 1996 Jiamusi University, China M.S. 2000 Microbiology and Immunology, Harbin Medical University, China Ph.D. 2004 Microbiology and Immunology, Harbin Medical University, China Post-Doctoral Fellow 2006 Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Akron, Akron, OH Suzuki Outstanding Student Scholarship 2000 Currently: Assistant Professor, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
Samuel K. Campos, Ph.D. B.S. 1999 Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute Ph.D. 2005 Biochemistry/Cell Biology Rice University Post-doc 2005-2008 Papillomaviruses, UNM SOM (Ozbun Lab) IDIP T32 Post-doctoral Fellowship (9/1/05-8/31/07) NIH F32 Post-doctoral Fellowship (8/9/06-8/7/08) ACS Fellowship (2008; declined for faculty position) Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Arizona
Jessica L. Smith, Ph.D. B.S. 2001 Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology U.C. Santa Cruz Ph.D. 2008 Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (2002-2008; Ozbun Lab) Infectious Disease and Inflammation T32 Training Grant Recipient NCI Travel Award for the DNA Tumour Virus Meeting, Trieste, Italy (July 2007) 1st Annual Molecular Genetics & Microbiology Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 2007 Sigma Xi, 2008 Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Oregon Health Sciences Center (with Jay Nelson, Ph.D.)
Joann B. Maestas - M.S. 2007 B.S 2002 Agricultural Biology New Mexico State University M.S. 2002-2007 Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (Ozbun Lab) Investigator of the NIH CMBB CURE Program, 2004-2006 Currently: Lab Manager, Dept. Cell Biology UNM
Stephanie L. Lowe, Ph.D. - Post-Doctoral Fellow 2002 B.S 1996 Molecular Biology, Auburn University Ph.D. 2001 Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC Post-Doctoral Fellow 2002 UNM (Ozbun Lab) Currently: Senior Scientist, Midwest Research Institute, Palm Bay, FL
Brandi K. Steele - M.S. 2001 B.S 1998 Biology Montana State University M.S. 1999-2001 Biomedical Sciences University of New Mexico (Ozbun Lab)

Undergrads and High School Students

Marisa Thompson UNM Undergraduate Research Project (2005-2006) Workstudy extrordinaire Studies on HPV infection detection using Qdots	B.S. University of New Mexico 2007 Biology/Psychology Currently: Graduate Student at New Mexico State University, Horticulture
Susan O'Neil UNM Undergraduate Research Project Studies on HPV infection detection using in situ hybridization
Or Amit UNM Undergraduate Research Project 2001-2002. : Characterization of RhPV1 replication in human keratinocyte cell lines
Randi Andrews 2001: Deming High School student - Science Fair Project. "LED light effects on cancer cell growth" Won in International Competition!

Ozbun Lab Group Shots


Summer 2009 Celebrations!! Lan's Paper! Meena's Paper! Hebin's New Job! Lan's Return to China! :-( & our Funny Kids!! ...
December 2008 secret santa party back: Bailey, Nicole, Kelly, Anastacia, Hebin front: Lan, Allison, Meena
July 2008 The last hurah for Jessica and Sam! congrats on those new positions back- Hebin, Sam, Mickey, Carl front - Michelle, Nicole, Jessica, Staci, Lan Jessica Smith, Ph.D. thesis defense cake -- HPV31 virus particles (red-hots) attach to extracellular matrix (yellow stuff) and filopodia (green projection at left) or the cell body. On the cell body the HPV31 virions enter via a lipid raft/caveolin-1-dependent mechanism. Caveolae and rab-5 (orange dots) are involved in entry prior to transfer to the endosomal pathway (see Virology 381:16, 2008).
April 2008 Sam, Hebin, Michelle, Mickey (back) Jessica, Staci, Nicole, Lan (front)
July 2007 Publication party for Smith, Campos, Ozbun Journal of Virology, 2007 Young Scientists: Raymond, Patrick, Ridge, Mikayla, Claire (the wonders of photoshop!!)
May 2007 Lan, Ryan, Jessica, Bailey, Kelly, Nicole, Hebin, Joann, Sam, Michelle (more photoshop wonders; there are ≥6 major alterations, can you find them?)
December 2006 Holiday Skating!
October 2006 Pumpkin Carving @ Jessica & Terry's house Hebin, Jing, Raymond, Erica, Sam, Jessica, Kelly, Adam (back) Michal, Brandon, Eric, Joann, Terry, Nicole, baby Claire, Michelle, Ridge, Steve (lower two rows)
October 2006 @ the Dean's Staff Awards Congrats Nicole--new baby, new award!!
July 2006 @ the DNA Tumor Virus Meeting in LaJolla, CA it just looks like beer
October 2005 ≈ fabulous art in CRF Sam, Jessica, Marisa, Nicole, Joann, Hebin
January 2005 Publication party for Patterson, Smith, Ozbun JVI 2005 Patty, Josh, Nicole, Steve, Terry, Jessica, Jing, Hebin (back) Eric, Joann, Mikayla, Michelle (front) (4 babies on the way!)
July 2004 Before and After: Our driving (yes, driving) trip to the DNA Tumor Virus Conference in Madison, WI "What was I thinking?" -M.Ozbun (heard by the side of the road in state patrol car just west of OKC)
2004 Josh, Rosa, Joann, Nicole, Hebin, Jessica we are a fun group, no?
May 2004 Nicole & Steve's Wedding Rosa, Michelle, Jessica, Nicole, Josh, Joann, baby Mikayla
Halloween 2003 (no babies on the scene! ...yet) (top) Hebin, Nicole, Steve, Joann, Eric (bottom) Josh, Rosa, Jessica, Rich
Summer 2002 Joe, Nicole, Randi, Rosa, Joann
Summer 1998 The first "Ozbun Lab" photo Rosa, Novina, Brandi, Bob, Cathy, Michelle