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Lawrence Lifshitz PhD

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionUMass Chan Medical School
DepartmentProgram in Molecular Medicine
AddressUMass Chan Medical School
373 Plantation Street
Worcester MA 01605
Phone508-856-3392
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    Other Positions
    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentMicrobiology

    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentProgram in Molecular Medicine


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United StatesBAPhysics
    University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesMSComputer Science
    University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesPHDComputer Science

    Collapse Overview 
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    Academic Background


    1980, B.A., Harvard University
    1983, M.S., University of North Carolina
    1987, Ph.D., University of North Carolina


    My Personal home page


    The Biomedical Imaging Group web page


    Questions about Microscopy? mail a question


    Computer Vision and Image ProcessingLarry Lifshitz


    Research in this lab involves developing and appying new computer vision algorithms toaidin the identification and quantification of structures of interest in medical images of various types. The research is directed towards solving certain "driving problems" of interest to medical researchers and physicians at UMW.

    Some driving problems to date have been: the automatic identification and tracking of microtubules in a time series of microscopic images of moving cells; the determination of cell membrane location in 3D fluorescently labelled fixed cells (to aid in quantification); the alignment of nuclear medicine and CT images to aid in the interpretation of nuclear medicine images; and the visualization and quantification of atherosclerosis in blood vessels.


    For more recent information, see my home page


    Figure


    Research Figure


    This figure shows a computer generated deformable surface which has deformed to match the true position of the cell membrane of a 3D image of a florescently labelled cell. Several slices from the 3D data set are also shown. The interactive visualization software and the deformable model software were developed by Dr. Lifshitz (in collaboration with others).



    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Rowland LA, Santos KB, Guilherme A, Munroe S, Lifshitz LM, Nicoloro S, Wang H, Yee MF, Czech MP. The autophagy receptor Ncoa4 controls PPAR? activity and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. bioRxiv. 2025 Feb 02. PMID: 39974946.
      Citations:    
    2. Min K, Yenilmez B, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Elleby M, Lifshitz LM, Raymond N, Tsagkaraki E, Harney SM, DiMarzio C, Wang H, McHugh N, Bramato B, Morrison B, Rothstein JD, Khvorova A, Czech MP. Lactate transporter MCT1 in hepatic stellate cells promotes fibrotic collagen expression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Elife. 2024 Apr 02; 12. PMID: 38564479.
      Citations:    
    3. Lu P, Lifshitz LM, Bellve K, ZhuGe R. TMEM16A in smooth muscle cells acts as a pacemaker channel in the internal anal sphincter. Commun Biol. 2024 02 05; 7(1):151. PMID: 38317010.
      Citations:    
    4. Qu M, Lu P, Lifshitz LM, Moore Simas TA, Delpapa E, ZhuGe R. Phenanthroline relaxes uterine contractions induced by diverse contractile agents by decreasing cytosolic calcium concentration. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Apr 05; 968:176343. PMID: 38281680.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    5. Min K, Yenilmez B, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Elleby M, Lifshitz LM, Raymond N, Tsagkaraki E, Harney SM, DiMarzio C, Wang H, McHugh N, Bramato B, Morrision B, Rothstein JD, Khvorova A, Czech MP. Lactate transporter MCT1 in hepatic stellate cells promotes fibrotic collagen expression in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. bioRxiv. 2023 Oct 19. PMID: 37205462.
      Citations:    
    6. Tsagkaraki E, Guilherme A, Nicoloro SM, Kelly M, Lifshitz LM, Wang H, Min K, Rowland LA, Santos KB, Wetoska N, Friedline RH, Maitland SA, Chen M, Weinstein LS, Wolfe SA, Kim JK, Czech MP. Crosstalk between corepressor NRIP1 and cAMP signaling on adipocyte thermogenic programming. Mol Metab. 2023 10; 76:101780. PMID: 37482187.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    7. Wang Y, Lifshitz L, Silverstein NJ, Mintzer E, Luk K, StLouis P, Brehm MA, Wolfe SA, Deeks SG, Luban J. Transcriptional and chromatin profiling of human blood innate lymphoid cell subsets sheds light on HIV-1 pathogenesis. EMBO J. 2023 08 15; 42(16):e114153. PMID: 37382276.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. Yenilmez B, Kelly M, Zhang GF, Wetoska N, Ilkayeva OR, Min K, Rowland L, DiMarzio C, He W, Raymond N, Lifshitz L, Pan M, Han X, Xie J, Friedline RH, Kim JK, Gao G, Herman MA, Newgard CB, Czech MP. Paradoxical activation of transcription factor SREBP1c and de novo lipogenesis by hepatocyte-selective ATP-citrate lyase depletion in obese mice. J Biol Chem. 2022 10; 298(10):102401. PMID: 35988648.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. Tsagkaraki E, Nicoloro SM, DeSouza T, Solivan-Rivera J, Desai A, Lifshitz LM, Shen Y, Kelly M, Guilherme A, Henriques F, Amrani N, Ibraheim R, Rodriguez TC, Luk K, Maitland S, Friedline RH, Tauer L, Hu X, Kim JK, Wolfe SA, Sontheimer EJ, Corvera S, Czech MP. CRISPR-enhanced human adipocyte browning as cell therapy for metabolic disease. Nat Commun. 2021 Nov 26; 12(1):6931. PMID: 34836963.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    10. Yenilmez B, Wetoska N, Kelly M, Echeverria D, Min K, Lifshitz L, Alterman JF, Hassler MR, Hildebrand S, DiMarzio C, McHugh N, Vangjeli L, Sousa J, Pan M, Han X, Brehm MA, Khvorova A, Czech MP. An RNAi therapeutic targeting hepatic DGAT2 in a genetically obese mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Mol Ther. 2022 03 02; 30(3):1329-1342. PMID: 34774753.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    11. Qu M, Lu P, Bellve K, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Mode Switch of Ca2 + Oscillation-Mediated Uterine Peristalsis and Associated Embryo Implantation Impairments in Mouse Adenomyosis. Front Physiol. 2021; 12:744745. PMID: 34803733.
      Citations:    
    12. Lu P, ElMallah MK, Liu Z, Wu C, Chen J, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Genetic deletion of the Tas2r143/Tas2r135/Tas2r126 cluster reveals that TAS2Rs may not mediate bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. J Cell Physiol. 2021 09; 236(9):6407-6423. PMID: 33559206.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    13. Lu P, Chen J, Zhang C, Saur D, Baer CE, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. Oscillating calcium signals in smooth muscle cells underlie the persistent basal tone of internal anal sphincter. J Cell Physiol. 2021 08; 236(8):5937-5952. PMID: 33452672.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Henriques F, Bedard AH, Guilherme A, Kelly M, Chi J, Zhang P, Lifshitz LM, Bellv? K, Rowland LA, Yenilmez B, Kumar S, Wang Y, Luban J, Weinstein LS, Lin JD, Cohen P, Czech MP. Single-Cell RNA Profiling Reveals Adipocyte to Macrophage Signaling Sufficient to Enhance Thermogenesis. Cell Rep. 2020 08 04; 32(5):107998. PMID: 32755590.
      Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Wang Y, Lifshitz L, Gellatly K, Vinton CL, Busman-Sahay K, McCauley S, Vangala P, Kim K, Derr A, Jaiswal S, Kucukural A, McDonel P, Hunt PW, Greenough T, Houghton J, Somsouk M, Estes JD, Brenchley JM, Garber M, Deeks SG, Luban J. HIV-1-induced cytokines deplete homeostatic innate lymphoid cells and expand TCF7-dependent memory NK cells. Nat Immunol. 2020 03; 21(3):274-286. PMID: 32066947.
      Citations: 43     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. Min SY, Desai A, Yang Z, Sharma A, DeSouza T, Genga RMJ, Kucukural A, Lifshitz LM, Nielsen S, Scheele C, Maehr R, Garber M, Corvera S. Diverse repertoire of human adipocyte subtypes develops from transcriptionally distinct mesenchymal progenitor cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 09 03; 116(36):17970-17979. PMID: 31420514.
      Citations: 56     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    17. Qu M, Lu P, Bellve K, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Shi F, Zhuge R. Smooth muscle cell-specific TMEM16A deletion does not alter Ca2+ signaling, uterine contraction, gestation length, or litter size in mice?. Biol Reprod. 2019 08 01; 101(2):318-327. PMID: 31175367.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Wu S, Fagan RR, Uttamapinant C, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Ting AY, Melikian HE. The Dopamine Transporter Recycles via a Retromer-Dependent Postendocytic Mechanism: Tracking Studies Using a Novel Fluorophore-Coupling Approach. J Neurosci. 2017 09 27; 37(39):9438-9452. PMID: 28847807.
      Citations: 29     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    19. Zheng K, Lu P, Delpapa E, Bellve K, Deng R, Condon JC, Fogarty K, Lifshitz LM, Simas TAM, Shi F, ZhuGe R. Bitter taste receptors as targets for tocolytics in preterm labor therapy. FASEB J. 2017 09; 31(9):4037-4052. PMID: 28559440.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    20. Lu P, Zhang CH, Lifshitz LM, ZhuGe R. Extraoral bitter taste receptors in health and disease. J Gen Physiol. 2017 Feb; 149(2):181-197. PMID: 28053191.
      Citations: 83     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    21. Ly S, Navaroli DM, Didiot MC, Cardia J, Pandarinathan L, Alterman JF, Fogarty K, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Bellve KD, Prot M, Echeverria D, Corvera S, Khvorova A. Visualization of self-delivering hydrophobically modified siRNA cellular internalization. Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 01 09; 45(1):15-25. PMID: 27899655.
      Citations: 47     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Zhang CH, Wang P, Liu DH, Chen CP, Zhao W, Chen X, Chen C, He WQ, Qiao YN, Tao T, Sun J, Peng YJ, Lu P, Zheng K, Craige SM, Lifshitz LM, Keaney JF, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R, Zhu MS. The molecular basis of the genesis of basal tone in internal anal sphincter. Nat Commun. 2016 Apr 22; 7:11358. PMID: 27101932.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    23. Rojas-Rodriguez R, Lifshitz LM, Bellve KD, Min SY, Pires J, Leung K, Boeras C, Sert A, Draper JT, Corvera S, Moore Simas TA. Human adipose tissue expansion in pregnancy is impaired in gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia. 2015 Sep; 58(9):2106-14. PMID: 26067361.
      Citations: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    24. Rojas-Rodriguez R, Gealekman O, Kruse ME, Rosenthal B, Rao K, Min S, Bellve KD, Lifshitz LM, Corvera S. Adipose tissue angiogenesis assay. Methods Enzymol. 2014; 537:75-91. PMID: 24480342.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Zhang CH, Lifshitz LM, Uy KF, Ikebe M, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. The cellular and molecular basis of bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. PLoS Biol. 2013; 11(3):e1001501. PMID: 23472053.
      Citations: 62     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    26. Zhang CH, Li Y, Zhao W, Lifshitz LM, Li H, Harfe BD, Zhu MS, ZhuGe R. The transmembrane protein 16A Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channel in airway smooth muscle contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Feb 15; 187(4):374-81. PMID: 23239156.
      Citations: 40     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    27. Zhang CH, Chen C, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Zhu MS, ZhuGe R. Activation of BK channels may not be required for bitter tastant-induced bronchodilation. Nat Med. 2012 May 04; 18(5):648-50; author reply 650-1. PMID: 22561814.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. Navaroli DM, Bellv? KD, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Cardia J, Lambright D, Leonard D, Fogarty KE, Corvera S. Rabenosyn-5 defines the fate of the transferrin receptor following clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Feb 21; 109(8):E471-80. PMID: 22308388.
      Citations: 39     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    29. Navaroli DM, Stevens ZH, Uzelac Z, Gabriel L, King MJ, Lifshitz LM, Sitte HH, Melikian HE. The plasma membrane-associated GTPase Rin interacts with the dopamine transporter and is required for protein kinase C-regulated dopamine transporter trafficking. J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 28; 31(39):13758-70. PMID: 21957239.
      Citations: 50     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    30. Lifshitz LM, Carmichael JD, Lai FA, Sorrentino V, Bellv? K, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. Spatial organization of RYRs and BK channels underlying the activation of STOCs by Ca(2+) sparks in airway myocytes. J Gen Physiol. 2011 Aug; 138(2):195-209. PMID: 21746845.
      Citations: 23     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    31. Jurczyk A, Pino SC, O'Sullivan-Murphy B, Addorio M, Lidstone EA, Diiorio P, Lipson KL, Standley C, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Urano F, Mordes JP, Greiner DL, Rossini AA, Bortell R. A novel role for the centrosomal protein, pericentrin, in regulation of insulin secretory vesicle docking in mouse pancreatic beta-cells. PLoS One. 2010 Jul 27; 5(7):e11812. PMID: 20676397.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    32. Zhuge R, Bao R, Fogarty KE, Lifshitz LM. Ca2+ sparks act as potent regulators of excitation-contraction coupling in airway smooth muscle. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jan 15; 285(3):2203-10. PMID: 19920135.
      Citations: 27     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    33. Lefkowitz JJ, Fogarty KE, Lifshitz LM, Bellve KD, Tuft RA, ZhuGe R, Walsh JV, De Crescenzo V. Suppression of Ca2+ syntillas increases spontaneous exocytosis in mouse adrenal chromaffin cells. J Gen Physiol. 2009 Oct; 134(4):267-80. PMID: 19786582.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    34. Li X, Standley C, Sapp E, Valencia A, Qin ZH, Kegel KB, Yoder J, Comer-Tierney LA, Esteves M, Chase K, Alexander J, Masso N, Sobin L, Bellve K, Tuft R, Lifshitz L, Fogarty K, Aronin N, DiFiglia M. Mutant huntingtin impairs vesicle formation from recycling endosomes by interfering with Rab11 activity. Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Nov; 29(22):6106-16. PMID: 19752198.
      Citations: 56     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    35. Leonard D, Hayakawa A, Lawe D, Lambright D, Bellve KD, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Corvera S. Sorting of EGF and transferrin at the plasma membrane and by cargo-specific signaling to EEA1-enriched endosomes. J Cell Sci. 2008 Oct 15; 121(Pt 20):3445-58. PMID: 18827013.
      Citations: 72     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    36. Bao R, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Bellv? K, Fogarty KE, ZhuGe R. A close association of RyRs with highly dense clusters of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels underlies the activation of STICs by Ca2+ sparks in mouse airway smooth muscle. J Gen Physiol. 2008 Jul; 132(1):145-60. PMID: 18591421.
      Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    37. Zhang YA, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Fogarty KE, Singer JJ, Zou H. Caffeine-activated large-conductance plasma membrane cation channels in cardiac myocytes: characteristics and significance. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Oct; 293(4):H2448-61. PMID: 17483243.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    38. Takizawa N, Smith TC, Nebl T, Crowley JL, Palmieri SJ, Lifshitz LM, Ehrhardt AG, Hoffman LM, Beckerle MC, Luna EJ. Supervillin modulation of focal adhesions involving TRIP6/ZRP-1. J Cell Biol. 2006 Jul 31; 174(3):447-58. PMID: 16880273.
      Citations: 36     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    39. De Crescenzo V, Fogarty KE, Zhuge R, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Carmichael J, Bellv? KD, Baker SP, Zissimopoulos S, Lai FA, Lemos JR, Walsh JV. Dihydropyridine receptors and type 1 ryanodine receptors constitute the molecular machinery for voltage-induced Ca2+ release in nerve terminals. J Neurosci. 2006 Jul 19; 26(29):7565-74. PMID: 16855084.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    40. Bellve KD, Leonard D, Standley C, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Hayakawa A, Corvera S, Fogarty KE. Plasma membrane domains specialized for clathrin-mediated endocytosis in primary cells. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jun 09; 281(23):16139-46. PMID: 16537543.
      Citations: 31     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. ZhuGe R, DeCrescenzo V, Sorrentino V, Lai FA, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Lemos JR, Smith C, Fogarty KE, Walsh JV. Syntillas release Ca2+ at a site different from the microdomain where exocytosis occurs in mouse chromaffin cells. Biophys J. 2006 Mar 15; 90(6):2027-37. PMID: 16387759.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    42. Zou H, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Singer JJ. Using total fluorescence increase (signal mass) to determine the Ca2+ current underlying localized Ca2+ events. J Gen Physiol. 2004 Sep; 124(3):259-72. PMID: 15337821.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    43. Zhuge R, Fogarty KE, Baker SP, McCarron JG, Tuft RA, Lifshitz LM, Walsh JV. Ca(2+) spark sites in smooth muscle cells are numerous and differ in number of ryanodine receptors, large-conductance K(+) channels, and coupling ratio between them. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2004 Dec; 287(6):C1577-88. PMID: 15306542.
      Citations: 17     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    44. Zou H, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Singer JJ. Imaging calcium entering the cytosol through a single opening of plasma membrane ion channels: SCCaFTs--fundamental calcium events. Cell Calcium. 2004 Jun; 35(6):523-33. PMID: 15110142.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    45. De Crescenzo V, ZhuGe R, Vel?zquez-Marrero C, Lifshitz LM, Custer E, Carmichael J, Lai FA, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Lemos JR, Walsh JV. Ca2+ syntillas, miniature Ca2+ release events in terminals of hypothalamic neurons, are increased in frequency by depolarization in the absence of Ca2+ influx. J Neurosci. 2004 Feb 04; 24(5):1226-35. PMID: 14762141.
      Citations: 36     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    46. Lawe DC, Sitouah N, Hayes S, Chawla A, Virbasius JV, Tuft R, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Lambright D, Corvera S. Essential role of Ca2+/calmodulin in Early Endosome Antigen-1 localization. Mol Biol Cell. 2003 Jul; 14(7):2935-45. PMID: 12857876.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    47. Femino AM, Fogarty K, Lifshitz LM, Carrington W, Singer RH. Visualization of single molecules of mRNA in situ. Methods Enzymol. 2003; 361:245-304. PMID: 12624916.
      Citations: 45     Fields:    
    48. Zou H, Lifshitz LM, Tuft RA, Fogarty KE, Singer JJ. Visualization of Ca2+ entry through single stretch-activated cation channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Apr 30; 99(9):6404-9. PMID: 11983921.
      Citations: 30     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    49. Miyazaki K, Yano T, Schmidt DJ, Tokui T, Shibata M, Lifshitz LM, Kimura S, Tuft RA, Ikebe M. Rho-dependent agonist-induced spatio-temporal change in myosin phosphorylation in smooth muscle cells. J Biol Chem. 2002 Jan 04; 277(1):725-34. PMID: 11673466.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    50. Lawe DC, Chawla A, Merithew E, Dumas J, Carrington W, Fogarty K, Lifshitz L, Tuft R, Lambright D, Corvera S. Sequential roles for phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and Rab5 in tethering and fusion of early endosomes via their interaction with EEA1. J Biol Chem. 2002 Mar 08; 277(10):8611-7. PMID: 11602609.
      Citations: 65     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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