Jacob Galan, PhD

Research Focus

Dr. Jacob Galan is committed to changing South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), and the world through advancing transformative research using state-of- the-art instrumentation and cutting-edge biomedical research.

Through the Department of Human Genetics, his vision is to improve the quality of life through research and education for everyone by creating the most innovative learning experiences. The mission of his research team is to bridge biotechnology with biomedical discovery with high-throughput proteomics and metabolomics using high-resolution mass spectrometry integrated with genomic sciences. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metabolomics is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together chemistry, biology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinstrumentation, statistics, and bioinformatics.

Dr. Galan’s research team is uniquely situated in the RGV and is dedicated to advancing science for the people of South Texas.

Dr. Galan’s academic and research interests are the application of high-throughput technologies using mass spectrometry-based proteomics for biomarker and drug discovery in complex chronic diseases like NAFLD, Cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Along with the Depts of Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Galan’s research interests are in exploring and developing integrative proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomic technologies of toxic exposures from industrial compounds and environmental toxins such as: Benzo(a)pyrene, Per /Poly Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), plastics, herbicides/fungicides, neurotoxins, mycotoxins to study their transmission and impact on chronic diseases. Dr. Galan’s research group has recently developed breakthrough technologies to develop in vivo model to investigate snake envenomation and antivenom therapeutics interactions using the integration of exosome-based proteomics, machine-learning computation, and biomarker prediction.