Vera Moiseenkova-Bell

Professor

View Lab Website Arrow Icon
215-898-1154
vmb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

10-124 Smilow Center for Translational Research

3400 Civic Center Boulevard

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Research Description

We are in the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania. We are interested in understanding structure and function of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels which have been implicated in a diverse range of cellular processes, including pain sensation, neuronal development, cardiovascular and renal pathophysiology, and cancer. Currently, the Moiseenkova-Bell laboratory has two main areas of research: First is to determine the structural basis of TRP channel activation, inhibition, and desensitization mechanisms by utilizing cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Second is to understand how TRP channels regulate cellular functions and the role of their dysregulation in human disease.

Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives

  • 2019-present, Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics Diversity
  • Search Advisor at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Degrees & Education

Ph.D., Cellular Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 2004

M.Sc., Laser Biophysics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1999

Honors & Awards

2004 - Mason Guest Scholar Award, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

2005 - Mechanotransduction & Gravity Signaling in Biological Systems Gordon Conference Travel Award

2005 - V.C. Joshi Memorial Prize, Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

2010 - Mt. Sinai Scholar, Mt. Sinai Foundation and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

2011 - Ruth McLean Bowman Bowers Excellence in Research Award, The Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

2013 - AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar, Englewood, CO (nominated and sponsored by Pamela B. Davis, M.D., Ph.D., Dean of CWRU School of Medicine)

2018 - Dean’s Innovation Fund Award, (sponsored by J. Larry Jameson, M.D., Ph.D., Dean Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania)

Other Perelman School of Medicine Affiliations

Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group

Professional Affiliations

2020-present, Member, Society of General Physiologists

2005-present, Member, Biophysical Society

2001-2010, Member, Society for Neuroscience

Recent Publications
April 28, 2022
Structural insights into TRPV2 activation by small molecules
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Pumroy RA, Protopopova AD, Fricke TC, Lange IU, Haug FM, Nguyen PT, Gallo PN, Sousa BB, Bernardes GJL, Yarov-Yarovoy V, Leffler A, Moiseenkova-Bell VY. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30083-3
Article Arrow Icon
April 26, 2022
Structural basis of TRPV5 regulation by physiological and pathophysiological modulators
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Fluck EC, Yazici AT, Rohacs T, Moiseenkova-Bell VY. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110737
Article Arrow Icon
January 6, 2022
Structure of the ancient TRPY1 channel from Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals mechanisms of modulation by lipids and calcium
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Ahmed T, Nisler CR, Fluck EC 3rd, Walujkar S, Sotomayor M, Moiseenkova-Bell VY - doi: 10.1016/j.str.2021.08.003
Article Arrow Icon
September 27, 2021
Context-Specific Function of the Engineered Peptide Domain of PHP.B
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Martino RA, Fluck EC 3rd, Murphy J, Wang Q, Hoff H, Pumroy RA, Lee CY, Sims JJ, Roy S, Moiseenkova-Bell VY, Wilson JM - doi: 10.1128/JVI.01164-21
Article Arrow Icon
August 5, 2021
Cryo-EM structure of the periplasmic tunnel of T7 DNA-ejectosome at 2.7 Å resolution
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Swanson NA, Lokareddy RK, Li F, Hou CD, Leptihn S, Pavlenok M, Niederweis M, Pumroy RA, Moiseenkova-Bell VY, Cingolani G - doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.06.001
Article Arrow Icon
March 26, 2021
Production and purification of TRPV2 and TRPV5 for structural and functional studies
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Fluck E.C., Pumroy R.A., Moiseenkova-Bell V.Y. - DOI:10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.007
Article Arrow Icon
March 5, 2021
Structural pharmacology of TRP channels
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Zhao Y., McVeigh B., Moiseenkova-Bell V.Y. - DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166914
Article Arrow Icon
January 9, 2021
Using biochemistry and biophysics to extinguish Androgen Receptor signaling in prostate cancer
Vera Moiseenkova-Bell, Ph.D.
Asangani I., Blair I.A., van Duyne G., Hilser V., Moiseenkova-Bell V.Y., Plymate S., Sprenger C., Wand J., Penning T.M. - DOI: 10.1074/jbc.REV120.012411
Article Arrow Icon
ALL Publications Arrow Icon