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Michael Wargovich

Contact

210-567-8230

wargovich@uthscsa.edu

Research

Research profile

Michael Wargovich, Ph.D.

Professor

Our laboratory investigates ways to prevent colon cancer. Our focus is on the chemoprevention of cancer - “Chemoprevention” is a discipline of cancer research that is less than 20 years old and embraces the idea that cancer can be prevented or precancers can be inhibited from progressing to cancer by the use of natural compounds or pharmaceuticals.  We study cancer biology using a number of human cancer cell lines and also utilize novel animal models for colon cancer.  Natural products can include substances from wine and green tea, fruits and vegetables, compounds in herbs and spices, vitamins and minerals, and dietary supplements. The lab has an interest in both terrestrial and marine botanicals. Via the pharmaceutical route, drug development has led to the discovery of compounds like tamoxifen for the prevention of breast cancer, aspirin for colon cancer.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 1981 - PhD - Microbiology - Texas Tech University
    • 1977 - MS - Biological Sciences - Duquesne University
    • 1974 - BA - Biology - Washington and Jefferson College
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Cancer Prevention Research - Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto Branch for Human Cancer Preve
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Biomedical Sciences - OVC, University of Guelph
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Medical Biophysics - Ontario Cancer Institute

    Appointments

    • 1/2013 - Professor/Research - University of Texas Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
    • 10/2012 - Professor - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Molecular Medicine, San Antonio
    • 1/2012 - Co-Founder - CanSurvive Cuisine, LLCCharleston

  • Instruction & Training

    • 1/2014 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UTHSCSA
    • 1/2014 - Present, TSCI 6105 - Topics in Cancer Prevention
    • 10/2013 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UTHSCSA
    • 10/2013 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UTHSCSA
    • 5/2013 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
    • 4/2013 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, UTHSCSA
    • 4/2013 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 1/2013 - Present, Cancer Biology Core I (Molecular Oncology), The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2013 - Present, Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2013 - Present, Colloquium in Mol Medi, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 12/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 11/2012 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
    • 1/2009 - Present, HORT 640 by telemedicine to multiple Universities in the US Canada
    • 9/2008 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, Medical University of South Carolina

  • Research & Grants

    Aerodigestive Cancer, Animal Models, Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention

    Population Science and Prevention Program

    Research profile

    Grants

    Private

    Funding Agency Morrison Trust Title Maximizing Dietary Vitamin D to Alleviate Chronic Colitis Status Complete Period 8/2016 - 12/2017 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail Funding Agency Morris L. Lichtenstein, Jr. Medical Research Foundation Title Extended Studies of Euglenophycin for Cancer Prevention and Treatment Status Active Period 3/2014 - 12/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail

    State

    Funding Agency University of South Carolina Title Herbal and Botanical Preventives for Colon Cancer Status Complete Period - Present Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail Research & Productive Scholarship Grant Funding Agency CPRIT Title Chemoprevention of Colon Cancer by Anti-inflammatory Blockade Using Neem Status Active Period 3/2016 - 8/2019 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail

  • Publications

      Journal Article

      Showler, AT, Osbrink, WL, Morris JL, Wargovich MJ. Effects of two commercial neem-based insecticides on lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae): deterrence, mortality, and reproduction Biopesticides International 2017 Jun;13(1):1-16. Ramirez AG, Long-Parma, D., Munoz, E., Mendoza, K.D., Harb, C., Holden, A.E., Wargovich, m. An anti-inflammatory dietary intervention to reduce breast cancer recurrence risk: Study design and baseline data Contemporary Clinical Trails 2017 Jun;57:1-7. Morris J, Moseley VR, Cabang AB, Coleman K, Wei, W, Garrett-Mayer, E and Wargovich MJ. Reduction in promotor methylation utilizing EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) restores RXRα expression in human colon cancer cells Oncotarget 2016 May;7(23):35313-35326.

      Not Specified

      Patel MJ, Tripathy S, Mukhopadyay, KD, Morris, J, Wargovich MJ. A supercritical extract of Neem leaf (A. indica and its bioactive liminoid, nimbolide suppress colon cancer in preclinical models by modulating pro-inflammatory pathways Molecular Carcinogenesis 2018 Jan;. Cabang AB, De Mukhopadhyay K, Meyers S, Morris J, Zimba PV, Wargovich MJ. Therapeutic effects of the euglenoid ichthyotoxin, euglenophycin in colon cancer Oncotarget 2017 Nov;8(61):104347-104358. Luo H, Yang A, Schulte BA, Wargovich MJ, Wang GY. Resveratrol induces premature senescence in lung cancer cells via ROS-mediated DNA damage Plos one 2013 Jan;8(3):60065-60070.

      Review Article

      Khoogar R, Kim BY, Morris J, Wargovich MJ. Targeting the Progression of Cancer with Natural Products: A Focus on Gastrointestinal Cancer Am J of Physiol Gastro and Liver Physiol 2016 Apr;310:G629-G644.