Programs

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
Cells are not just bags of molecules - they organize their biochemistry in space, often using dynamic compartments called biomolecular condensates. Our lab is asking fundamental questions about the role of condensates in biology, such as: how do condensate environments influence RNA recognition and metabolism? How do they alter the activity of therapeutics? And how do they contribute to oncogenic cell states? We do this using interdisciplinary approaches spanning chemical biology, quantitative cell microscopy, in vitro biophysics, and machine learning. We hope to ultimately uncover how subcellular organization shapes cellular function and how these principles can be harnessed therapeutically.

Key words
condensates, RNA, chemical biology, therapeutics, microscopy, cancer

Program affiliation
Neurosciences

Research summary
Functional network plasticity in development and brain injury

Key words
functional networks, plasticity, brain injury, development, perinatal stroke, MRI, resting state

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics

Research summary
Human Psychiatric Genetics, Mouse Models, Cell Type Specific Gene Expression Profiling, Translation, Astrocytes.

Key words
autism, gene expression profiling, genetics, genomics, mouse models, neurobiology, astrocytes, translation regulation

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
Our lab investigates how human herpesviruses replicate and assemble into new particles using interdisciplinary tools in virology, chemistry, and biophysics.

Key words
herpesvirus, assembly, capsid, biophysics, virology, biochemistry

Program affiliation
Human and Statistical Genetics
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary
Identifying preventive strategies to reduce cancer disparities

Key words

Program affiliation
General

Research summary
We conduct social science research on ethical and social issues in medicine and biomedical research.

Key words
research ethics, bioethics, research integrity, qualitative research, surveys

Program affiliation
General

Research summary
My research focus is on the impact of obesity and diabetes on mitochondrial biogenesis and function.

Key words
obesity, diabetes, mitochondrial metabolism, nutrition

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
The lab investigates the assembly and function of basal bodies/centrioles and cilia using genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, and computational biology in Chlamydomonas as well as human tissue culture cells. The key questions that we address are: 1.) how are these microtubule-based structures assembled, and 2.) how do they function and influence cellular biology, development, and human health. Our interest in basal bodies/cilia led us to use bioinformatics and comparative genomics.

Key words
centrioles, cilia, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, lung disease

Program affiliation
Neurosciences

Research summary
Movement and Neurodegenerative Disease

Key words
gait, balance, Parkinson disease, motor control, movement, neurodegeneration, neuroimaging, neurorehabilitation

Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Immune cell development and function

Key words
dendritic cells, macrophages, hematopoiesis, infection, inflammation, innate immunity, autoimmunity, multiple sclerosis