Dr. Donna Stolz is the Associate Director of the Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and an Associate Professor in the Departments of Cell Biology and Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Stolz is also the Director of the Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology Graduate Program. Prior to arriving at the university, Dr. Stolz received her BS in Biochemistry in 1986 and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 1991 from the University of Massachusetts. Currently, Dr. Stolz is actively involved in research concerning the process of liver regeneration, liver vascularization, and aging.
Dr. Stolz is the author/coauthor of over 240 publications from her work at the Center for Biologic Imaging as well as from her research efforts. Her primary interests lie in:
Signal transduction relating to mitogen-stimulated motility events in parenchymal (hepatocytes) and non-parenchymal (epithelial and endothethial) cells of the liver during liver regeneration
Angiogenesis of the liver following partial hepatectomy.
Endothelial cell proliferation and motility.
Effect of extracellular matrix on the above phenomena.
Ultrastructural evaluation of liver during various physiological states.
Artificial Liver bioreactors.
Repopulation of endothelium following ischemia/reperfusion injury of liver, intestine, and kidney.
Stem cell involvement in I/R injury recovery.
Novel organellar protein trafficking in hepatocytes.
Role of HIF and regulatory enzymes in liver remodeling, angiogenesis.
Mechanisms of aging in kidney in liver and vasculature in general.
Since 2010, Dr. Stolz has been on the Editorial Board of Cell Transplantation: The Regenerative Medicine Journal, the Hepatocyte Section. She also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, Laboratory Investigation, American Journal of Pathology, Experimental Cell Research, International Journal of Cancer, Journal of Cellular Physiology, Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Cell Transplantation,Gastroenterology, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Cells Tissues Organs, Liver Transplantation, and Tissue Engineering.
Some of Dr. Stolz’s outreach activities include:
HeLa Reflected Art Show (2011): Curated HeLa cell-centric image art show for the 60th Anniversary of HeLa, Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture Series, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.
Spring Flower Show, “The Secret Garden” (2013): Curated photomicrographs of CBI and the CAPA interns in Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory lobby.
“The Scientist is In” Session in the Genome Zone (2013): Discussed microscopy as a way to follow gene expression at the Smithsonian Institution.