Skip to Content
Chair and DEO, Department of SurgeryE.A. Crowell, Jr. ProfessorProfessor of Surgery - Surgical Oncology and Endocrine SurgeryProfessor of Biochemistry, Anatomy and Cell Biology
Primary Office: 1509 JCPIowa City, IA 52242 Primary Office Phone: 319-353-7474
Email: ronald-weigel@uiowa.edu
MS, Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMD, Yale University School of MedicinePhD, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University Graduate SchoolMBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Internship, Duke University Medical CenterResidency, Duke University Medical Center
Board Certified, American Board of SurgeryCertified, Advanced Trauma Life Support
Biosciences Graduate ProgramDepartment of Biochemistry PhDMedical Scientist Training Program
The Weigel laboratory has had a long-standing interest in determining mechanisms of hormone response in breast cancer. Our work has identified transcriptional mechanisms that regulate the expression of estrogen receptor- alpha in breast carcinomas. Other areas of investigation have sought to identify genes that are related to hormone response and additional mechanisms of gene regulation that are responsive to estrogen. Current Projects Regulation of ER by AP2 . We identified the AP2? transcription factor as a key regulator of hormone response in breast cancer. We are now examining mechanisms of gene regulation that involve this transcription factor. Chromatin Effects Altering AP2 Activity. We have shown that epigenetic chromatin alterations can influence activity of AP2 at certain promoters. The mechanism appears to involve altered binding of AP2 mediated through chromatin structure. Studies to determine how chromatin structure alters AP2 activity are being pursued. Interaction of AP2 and p53. We demonstrated a direct interaction between AP2 factors and the p53 tumor suppressor. The interaction of p53 and AP2 has functional effects on these two factors that appear to alter hormone response in breast cancer and cell growth in other cancer types. We are investigating the details of this interaction and the functional effects on gene regulation and cell physiology.
Show All
Sampling of secondary margins decreases the need for re-excision after partial mastectomy. Guidroz J, Larrieux G, Liao J, Sugg S, Scott-Conner C, Weigel R. Surgery. 2011 October (4th Quarter/Autumn); 150 (4) :802-9. [PubMed] Surveillance and intervention after thyroid lobectomy. Spanheimer P, Sugg S, Lal G, Howe J, Weigel R. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 June; 18 (6) :1729-33. [PubMed] PET-CT scans in recurrent or persistent differentiated thyroid cancer: is there added utility beyond conventional imaging?. Lal G, Fairchild T, Howe J, Weigel R, Sugg S, Menda Y. Surgery. 2010 December; 148 (6) :1082-9; discussion 1089-90. [PubMed] Discovery of the BMPR1A promoter and germline mutations that cause juvenile polyposis. Calva-Cerqueira D, Dahdaleh F, Woodfield G, Chinnathambi S, Nagy P, Larsen-Haidle J, Weigel R, Howe J. Hum Mol Genet. 2010 December; 19 (23) :4654-62. [PubMed] Identification of primary gene targets of TFAP2C in hormone responsive breast carcinoma cells. Woodfield G, Chen Y, Bair T, Domann F, Weigel R. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2010 October (4th Quarter/Autumn); 49 (10) :948-62. [PubMed] Risk factors for development and recurrence of primary breast abscesses. Gollapalli V, Liao J, Dudakovic A, Sugg S, Scott-Conner C, Weigel R. J Am Coll Surg. 2010 July (3rd Quarter/Summer); 211 (1) :41-8. [PubMed]
Date Last Modified: 04/10/2013 - 15:00:04