Cell and Membrane Dynamics Lab
The CMD Lab studies how membrane-associated mechanisms organize dynamic cellular responses across microbial and mammalian systems.
Department of Biology
The Catholic University of America
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Membranes are one of the fundamental organizing systems of life. Every cell requires a membrane to create a semi-permeable barrier between itself and the environment. Eukaryotic cells also have specialized internal membrane compartments such as the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Membranes are dynamic, heterogeneous, physical structures made of lipids, proteins, and associated molecules that can change across cell types, environment, and disease states.
Our research seeks to understand how membrane structure, membrane-associated proteins, and chemical interactions drive cell organization, communication, response to stress, and survival. We study these questions across microbial, yeast, mammalian, artificial membrane, and microfluidic systems, allowing us to connect membrane-linked mechanisms across different forms of life and biological systems. Current projects focus on how amphiphilic drugs alter membrane structure and function, how microbial communities communicate through membrane- and environment-dependent interactions, how viral and human proteins function within membrane-organized cellular contexts, and how keratins regulate membrane-linked adhesion structures in breast cancer cells. Together, these projects broadly address the mechanisms of dynamic membrane systems that shape cellular organization, response, and disease.
By integrating biological models with engineered and computational approaches, we aim to uncover principles of membrane biology that generalize across diverse forms of life. For more detailed information on each specific project, please visit our "Research" page.
How do amphiphilic drugs interact/permeate lipid bilayers?
How do amphiphilic drugs interact/permeate lipid bilayers?
What role do keratins (e.g. K19) have in regulating cell adhesion and proliferation?
What role do keratins (e.g. K19) have in regulating cell adhesion and proliferation?
Developing yeast systems to study viral activities that co-opt cellular membrane systems
Developing yeast systems to study viral activities that co-opt cellular membrane systems
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