Dr. Jia achieved his PhD degree in Molecular Genetics from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2000. He is a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Jia's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction and the roles of Hh signaling components in development and cancer, using both Drosophila and vertebrate cell lines as models. He has the long standing interest in the regulation of Smoothened (Smo), a seven-span transmembrane protein required for transduction of the Hh signal in cells exposed to Hh ligand. Novel mechanisms regarding Smo post-translational modifications and and intracellular trafficking have been investigated. Since abnormal Smo activation results in such cancers as basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma, these studies will provide insights into fundamental developmental problems and new avenues for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Along other directions, Dr. Jia is also working on the signaling mechanisms of Wnt/Wingles and Hippo/MST pathways and on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, searching for diagnostic tools and therapeutical treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Biochemistry