You have found the Miranda Lab
in the Department of Biology

Cancer Research
Over 10% of all cancer cases are caused by viral infections. We are scientists dedicated to biomedical research that aims to understand this global health challenge. Our work investigates two separate but equally important questions: 1) What is the basic science of how viruses turn human genes on and off? One of these projects, which focuses on studying host-pathogen interactions in single cells, is currently supported by the National Science Foundation. 2) Can translational medicine identify drugs that target these fundamental mechanisms to slow cancer growth? The connectedness and interplay between molecular genetics and cancer biology will hopefully define new paradigms for perturbing viral infection.

Infectious Disease Surveillance
Viruses are everywhere. Our team is developing and optimizing approaches to quantitatively measure viruses in the human built environment. The overarching goal is to build and maintain a surveillance network that detects emerging viruses to inform a public health response: 1) Can we predict outbreaks and seasonal waves at the early stages of community spread? 2) Do wisely chosen environmental samples identify infectious cases with geographical specificity? This work thrives on collabs between experts in virology, environmental science, and public health.

Viruses Studied
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are members of the herpes family that causes ~1% of all cancer world-wide. These malignancies, which include lymphoma, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, and sarcoma, are particularly prevalent in people living with HIV and others with compromised immune systems.
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza are respiratory viruses that cause widespread illness and are particularly concerning for vulnerable populations such as the elderly. Both are actively shed into the environment by patients carrying infections.

Educational Mission
In addition to working at the forefront of biomedical research, our team is committed to undergraduate education. We believe that one of the best ways to teach science is through the process of novel discovery in a supportive environment. This is a pretty chill and laid back lab in which to learn biology.