Case Western Reserve University
Derek Host is a PhD student in the Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics at Case Western Reserve University, mentored by Dr. Mitchell Drumm. He earned his BS in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics with a minor in computer science from the University at Buffalo, where he gained foundational experience in computational biology, computer science topics, and biomedical research. His academic training and early research, such as developing a compound-toxicity prediction pipeline using predicted compound-proteome interactions, laid the computational groundwork for his current focus on intestinal disease mechanisms.
Derek’s current research investigates how redox-sensitive transcription factors, particularly HIF1A and NRF2, contribute to glycolytic reprogramming in the cystic fibrosis (CF) small intestine. He integrates single-cell and spatial transcriptomics with molecular experimental validation tools, including immunohistochemistry, western blots, and chromatin profiling. With strong skills in R, Python, and high-performance computing, he developed reproducible pipelines to analyze CF datasets, skills he also shares as a mentor in his lab and with undergraduate and high school students. His long-term goal is to lead an independent, multidisciplinary lab focused on translational research in gastrointestinal health.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM PDT