Research

Investigating membranes + membrane protein biology and dynamics in the context of human health 

We are interested in interactions with and transport/communication across the plasma membrane including the actions of antimicrobial peptides, ion channels, and transport proteins. Our investigations leverage expertise and experience in bioengineering, cell biology, and quantitative fluorescence microscopy with project outcomes relating to regenerative medicine, rational design of peptides, and creative microscopy approaches and analyses, all towards developing improved therapeutic approaches for a variety of human diseases and conditions.

These goals are advanced by three active areas of current research

1.  Investigations of protein-protein interactions between cardiac voltage-gated potassium channel proteins hERG and KvLQT1

We study and quantify the location, mobility, and interactions between these ion channel subunits in model cellular systems to address whether protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation play a role in arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

2.  Mechanisms of adult stem cell resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate

Adipose-derived adult stem cells are less susceptible to methotrexate than other stem and non-stem cell types. We aim to determine the mechanism(s) of their resistance in efforts to develop therapies to help both stem cells and normal, differentiated cells survive while cancerous cell types are affected and eliminated during treatment.

3.  Characterization and design of antimicrobial peptides

In collaboration with the Elmore Lab at Wellesley College, our shared objective is to identify factors critical for systematic, novel antimicrobial peptide design while also furthering methodological innovations for considering peptide interactions with membranes, cellular localization, and comparisons of activity in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Funding

We are currently supported by

• Brachman Hoffman small grants from Wellesley College

• NIH/NIAID AREA grant R15 AI169210 (Elmore PI) Systematic Design of Histone-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides 

Our work has previously been supported by

• American Heart Association Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA) 23AIREA1051613 Investigating interactions between the cardiac voltage-gated potassium channel proteins hERG and KvLQT1

• Beckman Scholars Program Award to Wellesley College

• NIH/NIAID AREA grant R15 AI079685 (Elmore PI) Characterization and Design of Histone-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides 

• 2 NSF MRI grants Acquisition of an Integrated Atomic Force and Fluorescence Microscope to Enhance Undergraduate Research at Wellesley College and Acquisition of a flow cytometer to enhance undergraduate research at Wellesley College 

• Staley small grant and fellowship programs at Wellesley College

• Brachman Hoffman small grants from Wellesley College

• Fiske Awards from the Biological Sciences Department at Wellesley College