Rory Fisher, PhD
Title/Position
Professor
Rory obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in the Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology Program from Iowa State University in 1983. In his postdoctoral work with Drs. Merle S. Olson and Donald Hanahan at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (1983-1987), he studied fundamental mechanisms of hormones/lipid mediators on hepatic glycogenolysis and discovered a novel mechanism of glycogenolysis induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) and other vasoactive agents. He joined the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa in 1987 where his research has evolved from studying PAF and antigen-induced glycogenolysis, to cloning GPCRs and studying their signaling mechanisms, to cloning numerous members of the RGS protein family and studying their signaling and physiological/pathophysiological roles. His research now focuses on RGS6 which possesses critical roles in neuropsychiatric diseases, cancer biology and heart disease. His laboratory uses interdisciplinary approaches including manipulation and monitoring of neuronal circuits, mouse behavior, CRISPR gene editing of mice, and molecular genetic/cellular studies. Outside of the laboratory, Rory enjoys time with family, fishing, fitness and following his college and professional sports teams.
Mengcheng Guo
Title/Position
Undergraduate Student
Mengcheng is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She joined the Fisher Lab in Fall 2021, where her research focuses on the transcriptional regulation of RGS6. Outside of school and lab, Mengcheng enjoys time with family and friends, as well as hiking, sailing, and reading.
Dingxi Li
Title/Position
Visiting scholar, Gynecology oncologist
Dingxi graduated from Zhengzhou university with a master's degree in Clinical Medcine and pursuing MD-PhD. She is a gynecology oncologist of Henan cancer hospital and also a mom of a boy and two cats. When not working, she enjoys traveling to new places, skiing in the winter and shaping land surfing skills.
Jianqi Yang, PhD
Title/Position
Associate Research Scientist