Heme Transport and Cellular Regulation
April 2, 2026
The Hamza Lab . University of Maryland
Decoding the mystery of
Solutions
heme trafficking.
A multi-organismal, multi-pronged approach defining the molecular blueprint of heme & iron homeostasis in anemia, metabolic health, and infection.
A decades-long quest to understand iron & heme.
The Hamza Lab takes a multi-organismal, multi-pronged approach to solve the decades-old mystery of heme trafficking — defining the molecular blueprint of heme and iron homeostasis in anemia, metabolic health, and infection.
We use C. elegans, zebrafish, mice, and mammalian cell culture to dissect the conserved pathways that govern how cells acquire, transport, and detoxify heme — a molecule essential for virtually all life on Earth.
Iqbal Hamza, Ph.D. Professor
Dept. of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis (CBOTH)
Dept. of Animal & Avian Sciences (Joint appointment with UMD)
Biological Sciences Graduate Program (Member)
University of Maryland School of Medicine
670 West Baltimore St
8175 HSFIII, CBOTH
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: ihamza@som.umaryland.edu
Phone: 410-706-4533
University of Maryland
8127 Regents Drive
2125 Animal Sciences Center
College Park, MD 20742
Email: hamza@umd.edu
Phone: 310-405-0649
Multi-organismal science at the frontier of heme biology.
We pioneered heme research in C. elegans — one of only a few organisms unable to synthesize heme de novo. This unique biology makes it a powerful model to study heme transport genes.
Zebrafish offer a transparent window into vertebrate blood development. We use genetic and chemical screens to identify novel heme and iron trafficking factors in vivo.
Systemic iron dysregulation underlies anemias, metabolic syndrome, and susceptibility to infection. We map the molecular circuitry that keeps iron in balance across tissues.
Pathogens compete with hosts for heme and iron. We investigate how heme availability shapes innate immunity and determines the outcome of infectious diseases.
Heme: essential for life,enigmatic in its transport.
Selected Works
2023
Intestinal heme transporter SLC46A1 mediates dietary heme uptake and supports systemic iron homeostasis
Korolnek T, Zhang J, Beardsley S, Scheffer GL, Hamza I.
2022
HRG-4 is required for heme trafficking and C. elegans survival in iron-deficient conditions
Rajagopal A, Rao AU, Amigo J, Tian M, Upadhyay SK, Hall C, Uhm S, Damm MK, Johnson RS, Bhatt DL, Hamza I.
2021
Mitochondrial ferritin attenuates heart failure by suppressing mitochondrial iron dysregulation
Bayeva M, Gheorghiade M, Ardehali H, Hamza I.
2020
Heme oxygenase-1 and the vascular bed: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities
Durante W, Hamza I.
Meet the people behind the science
We are always looking for talented scientists.
The Hamza Lab is an intellectually stimulating environment where curiosity is valued, collaboration is the norm, and rigorous science is the standard. We train scientists to think boldly and work carefully.
Contact Us
- ihamza@som.umaryland.edu
-
670 West Baltimore St, 8175 HSFIII
CBOTH, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Postdoctoral Fellows
We welcome applications from highly motivated postdocs with backgrounds in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, or related fields. Experience with model organisms is a plus.
- Graduate Students
Prospective graduate students should apply through the Biological Sciences Graduate Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
- Undergraduates
Undergraduate students passionate about biomedical research are encouraged to reach out. We have openings for dedicated students willing to commit to hands-on lab work.