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Kathleen M. Caron

Kathleen Caron, PhD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and Distinguished Professor and Chair of UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Cell Biology and Physiology.

PhD
Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Cell Biology

Area of Interest

Research in the Caron laboratory at UNC-CH is focused on elucidating unique G protein-coupled receptor pathways that are important for the development and function of the cardiovascular system. Using a variety of gene targeted animal models in conjunction with state-of-the-art in vitro cell biological systems, we have discovered fundamental roles for several secretin- and chemokine-family receptors in cardiovascular development and disease. Much of our recent work has focused on the pivotal roles that receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) play in controlling receptor function, cellular signaling and physiology. The importance of the RAMP-receptor interaction is best exemplified by our work centered on the small blood protein, adrenomedullin—a potent lymphangiogenic vasodilator that serves as a prognostic indicator for many disease conditions including heart failure, nonimmune hydrops fetalis and tumor metastasis. We have also used genetic tools, coupled to biochemistry and pharmacology approaches, to expand the current repertoire of RAMP-interacting GPCRs, thereby illuminating novel pharmacological targets for the modulation of a wide variety of pathophysiological conditions, including tumor metastasis. Our current studies are geared towards characterizing the pharmacological and physiological roles of RAMPs with several newly identified partners in the chemokine/cytokine GPCR subfamily.

Find publications on PubMed

Awards and Honors

  • HHMI Gilliam Diversity & Inclusion Award, 2020
  • Excellence in Basic Science Mentoring Award, UNC-CH, 2019
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Scientific Advisory Board, Co-Chair, 2014-2023
  • Chair, NIEHS Board of Scientific Counselors, 2017-2022
  • American Heart Association, Established Investigator Award, 2008
  • Jefferson Pilot Fellowship Award in Academic Medicine, 2008
  • Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award, American Heart Association, Finalist, 2008
  • Recipient of Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, 2001
Headshot of Kathleen Caron.