Warren Ruder

Home Country:  USA

Degree(s) Obtained: S.B. in Civil and Environmental Entineering from MIT

Current Status:  Graduate student researcher and PhD student

Current Area of Research: Cardiac cell biomechanics and mechanotransduction modulation by implanted stem cells

Profile:

After graduating focusing on mechanics while completing his undergraduate degree at MIT, Warren spent two years working in the cell physiology laboratory of Assistant Professor Aldebaran Hofer of Harvard Medical School. The laboratory focuses on the cellular signaling pathways involving Ca²⁺, the well-known, ubiquitous second-messenger, with a particular focus on the extracellular calcium-receptor (CaR). Studies employ the use of fluorescent indicator dyes and, most recently, the use of genetically encoded, recombinant fluorescent protein probes. These probes have been engineered by collaborating laboratories around the world. As a research technician in the Hofer laboratory, Warren spent part of his time responsible for components of two ongoing projects. The first of these projects utilized a fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) – based probe to help elicit greater understanding of the interactions between the cAMP and calcium signaling pathways. The second project focused on the mechanism by which bile acids activate intracellular calcium pathways. Both studies have been published.

Current Research:

In 2005, Warren came to the biomedical engineering department at Carnegie Mellon to focus on cardiac cell biomechanics and mechanotransduction modulation by implanted stem cells. In collaboration with the laboratory of Assistant Professor Philip Leduc, Warren and Professor Antaki are focused on exploring these processes with the ultimate goal of designing optimized devices for cardiac regeneration.

Publications:

1. Gerbino, A., Ruder, W.C., Zaccolo, M., Pozzan, T., Curci, S., and Hofer, A.M. Termination of cAMP signaling by Ca2+ and Gai via extracellular Ca2+ sensors: cAMP pathway discriminates between high and low frequency intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. Journal of Cell Biology. 2005 Oct 24; 171(2):303-12.
2. Lau, B.W., Colella, M., Ruder, W.C., Ranieri, M., Curci, S., and Hofer, A.M. (2005) Deoxycholic Acid Activates PKC and PLC through Increased Ca2+ Entry at the Plasma Membrane. Gastroenterology 2005 Mar; 128(3):695-707.
   
3. Hofer A.M., Zaccolo M., Curci S., Pozzan T. and Ruder W. (2004) Ca²⁺-sensing receptors suppress cAMP signaling: direct cAMP imaging. American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting and 8^th IUBMB Conference, Boston MA . FASEB Journal 18(8): 62.13.
   
4. Ruder, W., Ranieri, M., Lau, B., Colella, M., Debellis, L., Curci, S., Hofer, A.M. (2004) Deoxycholic Acid Activates PKC and PLC through Increased Ca²⁺ Entry at the Plasma Membrane.  American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting and 8^th IUBMB Conference, Boston MA . Abstract # B522 (late-breaking abstract).

Contact:  wruder@andrew.cmu.edu