Contact Info

  • Luis Rodriguez, PhD
    George Mason University     10900 University Blvd.
    Discovery Hall 205
    Manassas, VA 20120
    View on Map

  • Phone: (703) 993-4292

  • Fax: (703) 993-9009

  • Email: lrodri17@gmu.edu

Luis Rodriguez

George Mason University PhD Student (2013-2019)

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    Biography

    Luis Rodriguez graduated from Rice University in 2003 with a BS in Bioengineering. After moving to the Washington Metro Area he spent 7 years working for Quest Diagnostics in their Molecular Oncology department as a Senior R&D tech. During this time, he continued education at Hood College in the Biomedical Science MS program. He has recently completed his PhD in Biosciences at George Mason University.

  • Research

    Luis' focus in the lab is on the role that the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its associated proteins has on the phenotype of the IPF fibroblast. In his time at the Grant Lab Luis has investigated how regulation of the actin cytoskeleton by Thymosin Beta-4 may result in transcription changes within the cell, how Thymosin Beta-4 may promote pro-survival mechanisms in the presence of oxidative stress, the changes in the genomic expression profile of the fibroblast within traditional tissue culture, and the isolation of various cell populations from fresh lung samples. His current work is focused on the identification of proteins that differentiate the IPF ECM from a normal lung ECM with a goal of eliciting differential responses from fibroblast and epithelial cell populations grown on each matrix.

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    • Publications

    Rodriguez LR., Emblom-Callahan M., Chhina M., Bui S., Aljeburry B., Tran LH., Novak R., Leema M., Nathan SD., Grant GM. Global Gene Expression Analysis in an in vitro Fibroblast Model of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibriss Reveals Potential Role for CXCL14/CXCR4. Scientific Reports. 2018 Mar; 8:3983.

    Rodriguez LR., Bui SN., Beuschel RT., Ellis E., Liberti EM., Chhina MK., Cannon B., Lemma M., Nathan SD., Grant GM. Curcumin Induced Oxidative Stress Attenuation by N-Acetylcysteine Co-Treatment: a Fibroblast and Epithelial Cell in vitro study in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Molecular Medicine. 2019 June;25:27.

    Posters

    Rodriguez L. , Nathan S.D., Grant G. A novel role for Thymosin beta4 in lung fibrosis via TGF-β mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Poster session presented at: 2015 American Thoracic Society International Conference; 2015 May 14-19; Denver, CO.

    Rodriguez L., Novak R., Nathan S.D., Grant G., Activation of myofibroblast associated genes by Thymosin beta4 in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis derived fibroblast cell lines. Poster session presented at: Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Summit 2015; 2015 November 12-14; Washington, DC.

    Rodriguez L., Bui S, Nathan S.D., Mani H., Grant G., Could infection be a significant factor in IPF? Poster session presented at: 2016 American Thoracic Society International Conference; 2016 May 15-20; San Francisco, CA.