Department of Surgery

Natasha Kyprianou, PhD
James F. Hardymon Chair in Urologic Research
Professor of Surgery/Urology
Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Professor of Toxicology
Phone: (859) 323-9812
E-mail: nkypr2@email.uky.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Active Research Studies

Kyprianou Lab Research Focus
Our research efforts focus on the identification of the molecular changes in the apoptotic cell death signaling contributing to the development and progression of human prostate cancer. Current studies using in vitro and in vivo approaches investigate the molecular mechanisms and cellular events functionally involved in the impairment of transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway and the resulting loss of apoptosis and cell cycle regulation in urologic tumors. At the translational level, our work seeks to characterize novel molecular markers for prostate and bladder cancer progression to metastastic disease and therapeutic response to androgen-ablation and radiotherapy, using pathological specimens of human tumors. At the mechanistic level, our research investigations utilize proteomics technology to dissect the mechanism of anoikis signaling in prostate cancer cells and optimize the molecular targeting of key apoptosis regulators for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Key publications from this lab can be found here.

Hong Pu, MD, PhD
I received my MD from Jiangxi Medical College in China. In the beginning of my career as a physician I was a Research Assistant and Assistant Professor at Shanghai Railway Medical School in China. In 1991, I moved to Japan where I earned my PhD degree in Cell Biology at the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan in 1998. Afterwards, I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at Okayama University Medical School in Japan before I moved to the US as a Research Associate in the Department of Surgery at the University of Kentucky. I am currently a Staff Scientist in the Division of Urology and in charge of the transgenic mouse projects. My research focuses on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway during prostate cancer progression in animal models. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, music and making delicious Asian food.

Joanne Collazo
I am a PhD candidate in the Toxicology program at the University of Kentucky. I grew up in Vega Baja, a small town near the beach on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. I received my BS degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. I joined Dr. Kyprianou's laboratory as a Research Assistant to help Dr. Hong Pu with the transgenic mouse projects that focus on the transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) signaling pathway during prostate cancer progression in animal models. My passions are the ocean, science and life.

Emily Matuszak
I am currently a graduate student working towards my PhD in Toxicology at the University of Kentucky. I received my BS in Chemistry at Western Kentucky University prior to joining Dr. Kyprianou’s lab in 2010 where I study the phenomenon of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in relation to metastatic disease progression of prostate cancer. I grew up in Lexington and when I am not in the lab I enjoy spending time with my family and riding hunter/jumper horses.

Sarah Martin
I am a PhD graduate student in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. I attended the University of Kentucky and received my Bachelor's degree in 2006 in Animal Sciences with a minor in Biology. I continued my education at UK with a Master's Degree in Animal Nutrition in 2010. I am enthusiastic about contributing to Dr. Kyprianou’s lab and making advances in prostate cancer research. In my free time, I am an avid dressage competitor with my horse SRC Parrot Bay and enjoy spending time with my French Bulldog Gigi.

Patrick Hensley
I am a medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, class of 2014. I earned a BS degree from Miami University and joined the Kyprianou Lab in the summer of 2010. I am currently investigating the anti-tumor efficacy of a novel class of chemotherapeutics on metastatic prostate cancer cells. My career interests include surgery/urology, and I hope to continue contributing to the translational efforts of oncologic research as a physician-scientist. I enjoy being outside and spending quality time with family and friends. I am very grateful for funding and support from the PSMRF and MSSRF programs in the College of Medicine.