Michael J. Kruhlak, Ph.D.

Michael J. Kruhlak, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist
Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics
Head, CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility

Dr. Kruhlak directs the activities of the CCR Confocal Microscopy Core that supports the light microscopy imaging needs of NCI researchers. This includes developing novel imaging-based assays based on high-resolution confocal, multi-photon, and super-resolution imaging methods.

Areas of Expertise

1) confocal microscopy, 2) multi-photon imaging, 3) Airyscan super-resolution, 4) structured illumination microscopy, 5) live cell imaging, 6) lightsheet microscopy

Contact Info

Michael J. Kruhlak, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 37, Room B114E
Bethesda, MD 20892
Ph: 240-858-3342
kruhlakm@mail.nih.gov
View Dr. Kruhlak's PubMed Summary

Selected Key Publications

  1. Generation of tumor antigen-specific iPSC-derived thymic emigrants using a 3D thymic culture system.
    Vizcardo R, Klemen ND, Islam SMR, Gurusamy D, Tamaoki N, Yamada D, Koseki H, Kidder BL, Yu Z, Jia L, Henning AN, Good ML, Bosch-Marce M, Maeda T, Liu C, Abdullaev Z, Pack S, Palmer DC, Stroncek DF, Ito F, Flomerfelt FA, Kruhlak MJ, and Restifo NP.
    Cell Reports. 22(12): 3175-3190, 2018. [ Journal Article ]
  2. KLF4-dependent perivascular cell plasticity mediates pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis.
    Murgai M, Ju W, Eason M, Kline J, Beury DW, Kaczanowska S, Miettinen MM, Kruhlak M, Lei H, Shern JF, Cherepanova OA, Owens GK, Kaplan RN.
    Nature Medicine. 23(10): 1176-1190, 2017. [ Journal Article ]
  3. A macrohistone variant links dynamic chromatin compaction to BRCA1-dependent genome maintenance.
    Khurana S, Kruhlak MJ, Kim J, Tran AD, Liu J, Nyswaner K, Shi L, Jailwala P, Sung MH, Hakim O, and Oberdoerffer P.
    Cell Reports. 8(4): 1049-1062, 2014. [ Journal Article ]
  4. The ATM repair pathway inhibits RNA polymerase I transcription in response to chromosome breaks.
    Kruhlak M, Crouch EE, Orlov M, Montano C, Gorski SA, Nussenzweig A, Misteli T, Phair RD, and Casellas R.
    Nature. 447(7145): 730-734, 2007. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Changes in chromatin structure and mobility in living cells at sites of DNA double-strand breaks.
    Kruhlak MJ, Celeste A, Dellaire G, Fernandez-Capetillo O, Muller WG, McNally JG, Bazett-Jones DP, and Nussenzweig A.
    Journal of Cell Biology. 172(6): 823-834, 2006. [ Journal Article ]

Dr. Kruhlak received his Ph.D. from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary Medical School.  From there, in 2001, he joined the NCI as a staff scientist to head the Experimental Immunology Branch Light Microscopy and Digital Imaging Facility. In 2018, as a NCI associate scientist he became director of the CCR Confocal Microscopy Core.

Name Position
Langston Lim Research Biologist