Research Summary
My laboratory is interested in the logic of cell signaling systems: understanding how the networks of signaling proteins found in eukaryotic cells have evolved to allow cells to make complex behavioral decisions. We use two broad approaches to attack this problem. First we use biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and computational biology to dissect the mechanisms of signaling proteins and networks. We are particularly interested in understanding how nature's toolkit of modular domains are recombined through evolution to generate new and diverse response behaviors. Second, we use synthetic biology: the redesign of biological systems. In particular, we are using various methods to create novel or modified signaling proteins and pathways, both to systematically understand network structure/function relationships and to develop engineered research tools and novel biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
Research Funding
September 24, 2019 - August 31, 2024 - UCSF Center for Synthetic Immunology: Tools to Reprogram the Immune System to Combat Cancer, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: U54CA244438
September 1, 2018 - July 31, 2023 - Protein Recognition in Signal Transduction, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA220257
September 20, 2017 - August 31, 2021 - Designer Tregs for restoring tolerance in patients with type 1 diabetes, Co-Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NIDDK, Sponsor Award ID: UC4DK116264
September 23, 2014 - August 31, 2019 - Redesigning the T cell: Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Therapeutic Cells, Principal Investigator. Sponsor: NIH/NCI, Sponsor Award ID: R01CA196277
Education
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, AB, 1986, Chemistry
Mass. Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, PhD, 1991, Biochem & Biophysics
Yale University, New Haven, CT, Postdoc, 1992-1996, Biophysics & Biochem