Programs
Departments & Divisions
Institutes & Centers
David Libich, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Biochemical Mechanisms in Medicine, IBMS Graduate Program
Currently seeking M.S. & Ph.D. students
Research
All cellular functions, activities, and communications are mediated by protein interactions. Despite their crucial importance, we know relatively little about many of these interactions due in large part to experimental limitations of structural biology. The central theme of the Libich Lab revolves around the determination of the structure and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of highly dynamic and transient protein interactions. In conjunction with conventional biophysical approaches, we employ a host of cutting-edge NMR methods designed to detect and quantify kinetic, dynamic and structural information from such systems. Our current efforts are focused on understanding the assembly and functional interactions of low-complexity RNA-binding proteins involved in cancer and neurodegenerative processes. These types of proteins are challenging targets for biophysical characterization due to their extreme structural heterogeneity and propensity to aggregate. In particular, we are interested in the oncogenic fusion protein EWS-Fli1 and the structural implications of its role as the sole driver of Ewing's sarcoma. By characterizing, at atomic resolution, the structural features that contribute to both EWS-Fli1 self-association and its macromolecular interactions we will seek to understand the molecular basis of how it influences the genetic program of the cell. In a wider context, these studies will teach us more about the fundamental mechanisms of protein interactions, in both healthy and disease states. Related Diseases: pediatric cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, neurodegenerative processes, ALS, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, chaperones, protein folding, intrinsic disorder, intrinsically disordered proteins, cancer biology Techniques: nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroic spectroscopy, analytical ultracentrifugation, light scattering, protein purification, site-directed mutagenesis, molecular cloning, biophysical and biochemical approaches
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Professional Background
Education
- 2008 - PhD - Biophysics - University of Guelph
- 1999 - BSc - Biochemistry - University of Guelph
Training
- 2017 - Visiting Fellow - The National Institutes of Health, Laboratory of Chemical Physics
- 2011 - Research Fellow - Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences
- 2010 - Postdoctoral Fellow - Massey University, Institute of Fundamental Sciences
Appointments
- 2024 - current - Associate Professor (with Tenure) - UT Health San Antonio
- 2024 - current - Co-Director, Texas Doctoral Bridges Program (T32) - UT Health San Antonio
- 2019 - current - Director, Biochemical Mechanisms in Medicine Discipline - UT Health San Antonio
- 2017 - current - Faculty - Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health SA
- 2017 - 2023 - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio
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Instruction & Training
- 2018 - current, CIRC 5007 - Molecules to Medicine, UT Health SA
- 2018 - current, BIOC 6036 - Macromolecular Structure and Mechanism, UT Health SA
- 2018 - current, BIME 6003 - Biology for Biomedical Engineers, UT Health SA
- 2020 - current, IBMS 5000 - Fundamentals of Biomedicals Sciences, UT Health SA
- 2022 - current, MMED 6001 - RNA Biology and Genomics II, UT Health SA
- 2023 - current, BIOC 6035 - Target Identification and Hit / Lead Discovery, UT Health SA
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Service
Department
Member, GCCRI Equipment Committee
Institutional
Senator, Faculty Senate, (elected, 2024-2027)
Council of Principal Investigators, (Chair, 2023)
Council of Principal Investigators, (elected member, 2019-2024)
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Publications