20638-Androphy, Elliot
Faculty

Elliot J. Androphy, MD

Professor of Dermatology

Phone 317-274-7705
Address
545 Barnhill Drive
EH 139

Indianapolis, IN 46202
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Bio

After graduating Brandeis Univ. with a major in chemistry and research in photochemistry, Dr. Androphy attended the Univ. of Rochester School of Medicine, where he continued his passion for cancer research. He completed his medical internship and two years of dermatology residency at the Univ. of Pittsburgh, after which he transferred to the Dermatology Branch of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD, and joined the group of Dr. Douglas Lowy, where he investigated the molecular biology and oncogenic properties of papillomaviruses in the newly created Laboratory of Cellular Oncology. Following this four-year post-doctoral fellowship, he moved to Tufts Medical School as an Assistant Professor and progressed to Professor and Vice Chair of the Dept. of Dermatology. In 2001, Dr. Androphy was appointed as the first Barbara & Nathan Greenberg Chair and served as Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Dept. of Medicine at the Univ. of Massachusetts Medical School. In 2010, Dr. Androphy became Chair of the Department of Dermatology of Indiana University School of Medicine. 

Titles & Appointments

  • Professor of Dermatology
  • Professor of Microbiology & Immunology
  • Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology
  • Education
    1986 FEL NIH Senior Fellow, National Cancer Institue
    1982 RES Dermatology Residency, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Center
    1979 MD University of Rochester
    1975 BA Brandeis University
  • Research

    Research focuses on the study of human papillomaviruses (HPV), a family of viruses that causes genital warts, cervical and other lower genital tract cancers, and a subset of head and neck cancers. The research is designed to understand viral gene expression and replication, induction of oncogenic transformation by viral gene products, and to develop novel strategies for medical treatment of these infections.

    Dr. Androphy’s lab characterized the mechanism of alternative splicing of the SMN2 gene, which leads to skipping of exon 7 and failure to protect from motor neuron loss found in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Presently the lab team is investigating the functions of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein in regard to axonal transport and neuronal development. They have performed large high throughput screens for compounds that increase levels of the SMN protein that is deficient in SMA, with the goal to increase the potency and optimize pharmacology of pre-clinical leads and initiate testing in murine models of SMA. This research is funded by a series of NIH grants, including a Dermatology Training grant (T32).

    Research Program Membership at IU Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center; Microbiology & Immunology Program.

    Research interests center in mechanism of human papillomavirus induced malignancies and includes development of novel antiviral drugs; mechanism of p53 tumor suppression; gene expression, DNA replication, RNA splicing; pathogenesis of spinal muscular atrophy and development of threapy for SMA; pathogenesis of HPV and Novel Therapeutic Approaches; and pathogenesis of a Motor Neuron Disease and Treatment.

  • Professional Organizations
    American Academy of Dermatology
    Indiana Academy of Dermatology
  • Board Certifications
    American Board of Dermatology - Dermatology
  • Clinical Interests

    General Dermatology

  • Awards
    Org: CURE SMA
    Desc: Co-inventor
    Scope: National
    Date: 2016-12-01

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