Research labs at Temple University .

Cordes Lab

Deep-sea ecologyCoral reefsOcean exploration

Erik Cordes · Professor and Chair of Biology

Deep-sea ecosystems can be difficult to discover and even harder to protect. Erik Cordes studies deep-ocean ecology, including coral reefs, natural hydrocarbon seeps, and hydrothermal vents. His group uses seafloor mapping, predictive models, and submersible surveys to locate and examine coral communities, and develops conservation and restoration approaches for damaged habitats. The work connects ocean exploration with ecological stewardship. It is a research match for interests in marine biodiversity, deep-sea communities, and understanding environmental effects in ecosystems beyond the reach of sunlight.

GGIndependently curated · Unclaimed

Gianluca Gallo Research Group

Axon developmentCytoskeletonMitochondria

Gianluca Gallo · Professor of Neural Sciences

How does a neuron grow its branches, and what causes those connections to break after injury? Gianluca Gallo investigates axon development and the regulation of actin filaments and microtubules by external signals. His lab uses high-resolution imaging and experiments in vitro and in vivo to study branching, mitochondrial function, and local protein production. Research also examines glycolysis and the mechanisms linking physical injury to axon severing and degeneration. These questions connect cell biology with nervous-system development and experimental approaches to protecting neural connections.

JEIndependently curated · Unclaimed

John Elrod Research Group

MitochondriaCalcium exchangeHeart failure

John Elrod · Professor, William Wikoff Smith Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine

A cell’s energy machinery can also help determine whether it survives injury. John Elrod studies mitochondrial biology, metabolism, fibrosis, and cell death in cardiac injury, heart failure, and neurodegeneration. His multidisciplinary lab has investigated components of mitochondrial calcium exchange and how these pathways influence disease processes. He directs Temple’s Aging and Cardiovascular Discovery Center. The work connects cellular energy regulation with organ-level disorders, providing a focused research setting for interests in mitochondria, cardiovascular biology, and the molecular mechanisms of tissue damage.

KKIndependently curated · Unclaimed

Kamel Khalili Research Group

NeurovirologyHIVGlial cells

Kamel Khalili · Laura H. Carnell Professor

How do viruses disrupt the cells and signaling systems of the brain? Kamel Khalili studies neurodegeneration, abnormal neural-cell growth, and neuroinflammation using neurotropic viruses such as HIV and JC virus. His research investigates gene expression, protein quality control, chromosome instability, and glial-cell functions through molecular and cellular experiments, animal models, and clinical samples. A related effort uses gene editing to investigate removal of viral DNA. The work connects virology with neuroscience and experimental therapeutic strategies, without treating those strategies as established cures.

MBIndependently curated · Unclaimed

Mary Barbe Research Group

Overuse injuryFibrosisSensorimotor function

Mary Barbe · Professor

Repetitive work can change tissues long before an injury becomes easy to see. Mary Barbe studies how repetition and force affect musculoskeletal and nervous systems, using a rat model of work-related overuse injury. Her research examines inflammation, fibrosis, tissue degeneration, and sensorimotor dysfunction, alongside possible interventions. A separate line of work investigates surgical approaches to bladder and urethral sphincter reinnervation after spinal root injury. These projects connect anatomy, neuroscience, and tissue pathology with specific questions about injury mechanisms and functional recovery.