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Alina P.S. Pang, PhD

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Alina graduated from the Univeristy of Hawaiʻi in 2013 with a BS in Biology. During her undergrad, Alina worked with Dr. Alan Lau at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaiʻi studying endoplasmic-reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) of connexin in cancer. Alina also worked in Dr. Steven Robinowʻs lab studying the nuclear receptor UNFULFILLED (UNF) in mushroom body neurodevelopment in Drophila melanogaster. Following graduation, Alina entered the Cell and Molecular PhD program under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Corley. Her PhD work focused on the role of immunometabolism and epigenetics in Type 2 Diabetes of local communities in Hawaiʻi. She also participated in other community based research projects with Dr. Ryan Lee, researching ketogenic diet therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and epilepsy in children, and with Dr. Lishomwa Ndhlovu, studying the gut microbiome and immune cell metabolism in HIV-infected individuals on antiretrovial therapy.


Research Interest: Epigenetics, DNA methylation, Immunometabolism, NGS, Diabetes, HIV, Infectious Disease.

 

Awards/Accolades:

  • Recipient, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Kai Bowden Award in Medicine (2019)

    • Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

    • Mentor: Michael J. Corley, PhD


Fun Fact: Alina enjoys travelling and trying new foods, especially sweets. Sheʻs looking forward to trying all the desserts New York has to offer. She also likes to spend time with her family and friends in Hawaiʻi and in northern Thailand, where she volunteers at a childrenʻs home.

Hometown: Kalihi, HI

 

B.S., Biology – University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2013)

Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology – University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (2020)

Publications

Patterson BK, Seethamraju H, Dhody K, Corley MJ, Kazempour K, Lalezari J, Pang APS, Sugai C, Mahyari E, Francisco EB, Pise A, Rodrigues H, Wu HL, Webb GM, Park BS, Kelly S, Pourhassan N, Lelic A, Kdouh L, Herrera M, Hall E, Bimber BN, Plassmeyer M, Gupta R, Alpan O, O'Halloran JA, Mudd PA, Akalin E, Ndhlovu LC, Sacha JB. CCR5 Inhibition in Critical COVID-19 Patients Decreases Inflammatory Cytokines, Increases CD8 T-Cells, and Decreases SARS-CoV2 RNA in Plasma by Day 14. Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Nov 10:S1201-9712(20)32305-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.10.101. PMID: 33186704.

SahBandar IN, Chew GM, Corley MJ, Pang APS, Tsai N, Hanks N, Khadka VS, Klatt NR, Hensley-McBain T, Somsouk M, Vujkovic-Cvijin I, Chow DC, Shikuma CM, Ndhlovu LC. Changes in gastrointestinal microbial communities influence HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responsiveness to immune checkpoint blockadeAIDS. 2020 Aug 1;34(10):1451-1460. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002557. PMID: 32675558.

Chew GM, Padua AJP, Chow DC, Souza SA, Clements DM, Corley MJ, Pang APS, Alejandria MM, Gerschenson M, Shikuma CM, Ndhlovu LC. Effects of Brief Adjunctive Metformin Therapy in Virologically Suppressed HIV-Infected Adults on Polyfunctional HIV-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses to PD-L1 Blockade. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2020 Nov 5. doi: 10.1089/AID.2020.0172.

Corley MJ, Vargas-Maya N, Pang APS, Lum-Jones A, Li D, Khadka V, Sultana R, Blanchard DC, Maunakea AK. Epigenetic Delay in the Neurodevelopmental Trajectory of DNA Methylation States in Autism Spectrum DisordersFront Genet. 2019 Oct 1;10:907. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00907. eCollection 2019. PMID: 31681403.

Fujimoto BA, Young M, Carter L, Pang APS, Corley MJ, Fogelgren B, Polgar N. The exocyst complex regulates insulin-stimulated glucose uptake of skeletal muscle cellsAm J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Dec 1;317(6):E957-E972. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00109.2019. Epub 2019 Oct 8. PMID: 31593505.

Balaan C, Corley MJ, Eulalio T, Leite-Ahyo K, Pang APS, Fang R, Khadka VS, Maunakea AK, Ward MA. Juvenile Shank3b deficient mice present with behavioral phenotype relevant to autism spectrum disorderBehav Brain Res. 2019 Jan 1;356:137-147. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.005. Epub 2018 Aug 19. PMID: 30134148.

Lee RWY, Corley MJ, Pang A, Arakaki G, Abbott L, Nishimoto M, Miyamoto R, Lee E, Yamamoto S, Maunakea AK, Lum-Jones A, Wong M. A modified ketogenic gluten-free diet with MCT improves behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder. Physiology and Behavior. 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.02.006

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