Our Research

Rourke Lab's research focuses on the discovery of unknown endogenous ligands for orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and the cellular communication through activation of these cell surface receptors as well as the toxicology of gold nanoparticles. 

Our work is driven forward by our mission to:

1) discover novel ligands for GPCRs;

2) better understand how this receptor family contributes to nutrient sensing, metabolism, diabetes, and cancer; and 

3) develop a cytotoxic profile of the gold nanoparticles in various cancer cell lines.