Professor A. Joshua Wand's lab at Texas A&M Agrilife Research focuses on understanding how proteins work and how their structures affect their functions in health and diseases. The lab studies the impact of entropy, a measure of disorder, on the stability and function of proteins, particularly in the context of diseases like Parkinson's. By exploring these relationships, the lab aims to uncover new pathways for disease intervention and develop strategies to address various health issues related to protein dysfunction.

Dr. Smita S Patel's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how specific enzymes interact with DNA and RNA during important biological processes like transcription, replication, and viral infection response. Using advanced techniques in biochemistry and structural biology, the lab investigates how helicases and polymerases work to recognize viral signals and regulate mitochondrial DNA function. The lab’s research aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that could lead to new therapies for viral infections and mitochondrial diseases.

Dr. Stephen L. Helfand's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding a rare genetic disorder resulting in severe epilepsy caused by mutations in the SLC13A5 gene. The lab utilizes advanced models, including fruit flies and mice, to explore how these mutations disrupt brain functions and develop potential treatments. Their research is crucial for linking genetics to the observed symptoms in patients, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Michelle R. Dawson's lab at Brown University focuses on understanding how some cells in epithelial ovarian cancer can resist treatment and spread within the body. Her research investigates the role of energy metabolism in cancer cells, particularly how they switch between using different energy sources when under stress. By studying these processes, particularly in a specialized 3D culture model, the lab aims to discover new ways to target and potentially treat this aggressive cancer more effectively.

Dr. James M. Ervasti's lab focuses on understanding dystrophin and its role in muscle health, particularly in the context of muscular dystrophies such as Duchenne and Becker. Through innovative animal models and advanced techniques, the lab investigates how dystrophin interacts with microtubules and how its absence contributes to disease. The research aims to identify therapeutic strategies that could effectively replace dystrophin with miniaturized variants.

Dr. Hsian-Rong Tseng's lab at UCLA focuses on developing innovative ways to monitor treatment responses in pediatric patients with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. The lab is working on a noninvasive test that analyzes extracellular vesicles (tiny particles released by tumors) to assess the activity of specific enzymes involved in cancer progression. This research aims to improve current diagnostic methods, offering better ways to track how well treatments are working for young patients with this aggressive disease.

Dr. Jingyi Fei's lab at the University of Chicago focuses on understanding membraneless organelles (MLOs) in eukaryotic cells. These organelles, which consist of proteins and RNAs, play crucial roles in cellular processes and are linked to various diseases. The lab aims to develop new methods to study the organization and function of MLOs at high resolution, which could ultimately lead to better therapeutic strategies for related health conditions.

David A. Ford's research lab at Saint Louis University investigates the toxic effects of halogen gases, particularly chlorine and bromine, on the lungs and blood. They explore how chemicals produced from these exposures can lead to issues like coagulopathy and organ injury, and aim to find common treatment strategies for these public health threats. By studying how these toxicants affect red blood cells and platelets, this lab seeks to better understand the underlying mechanisms of gas toxicity and develop potential therapeutic interventions.

Maxim Frolov's research lab focuses on understanding how certain pathways in cells control their growth and specialization during animal development. Using the fruit fly Drosophila as a simpler model, the lab studies the Retinoblastoma (RB) and Hippo pathways and their roles in cell cycles and how they can lead to diseases when they malfunction. The goal is to gain insights that can potentially inform treatments for conditions like cancer and other growth-related diseases.

Dr. Hiten D Madhani's lab focuses on understanding the genetic factors that influence the behaviour and evolution of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, the leading cause of fungal meningitis. They explore how different genetic backgrounds affect the pathogen's ability to infect hosts and respond to treatments. By generating genomic resources and employing cutting-edge techniques like CRISPR, the lab aims to provide critical insights that could help develop new therapies for treating invasive fungal infections.

Dr. Mikel Garcia-Marcos leads a research lab at Boston University Medical Campus that focuses on understanding how G proteins, which are important for cellular signaling, operate and can be regulated. His team investigates novel regulatory components that influence G protein pathways, particularly in relation to neurological diseases like Alzheimer's. The lab employs innovative techniques to explore the flexibility and complexity of these signaling mechanisms, aiming to find new ways to treat cognitive decline and related disorders.

Dr. John T. Lis's lab at Cornell University focuses on understanding how enhancers and promoters work together to regulate gene expression in the human genome. The team is investigating the role of DNA sequences that control these interactions, which are crucial for understanding how genes are turned on and off in various conditions. By mapping these elements and assessing their functions, they aim to provide insights applicable to both normal biology and diseases.

Dr. Howard J. Edenberg's lab focuses on understanding the genetic factors that contribute to substance use disorders (SUDs). The lab conducts experiments to identify specific genetic variants that affect gene regulation in brain cells, which could lead to significant insights into the mechanisms behind these disorders. Through innovative high-throughput techniques and computational modeling, the lab aims to create a resource of genetic variants that link to SUD risk, thereby paving the way for future prevention and treatment strategies.

Dr. Shaun Olsen's lab focuses on understanding how specific proteins called RAD51 paralogs help repair damaged DNA in cells. Their research is crucial for maintaining genome integrity, and they explore how failures in this repair process can lead to cancer. By studying these complex protein interactions, they aim to develop new cancer therapies targeting DNA repair pathways.

Dr. Edwin Antony's research lab at Saint Louis University focuses on understanding the role of proteins that interact with DNA, specifically how they regulate the processes that maintain genomic integrity. The lab investigates the function of Replication Protein A (RPA) in DNA metabolism and how it collaborates with other proteins to repair DNA and prevent diseases such as cancer. They utilize advanced techniques to explore the mechanisms of DNA repair pathways, contributing to the development of potential cancer therapies.

Dr. Jennifer Kohler's lab at UT Southwestern Medical Center studies glycoconjugates, which are complex sugar molecules found on cell surfaces. They explore how these molecules interact with pathogens like cholera toxin and how they vary from person to person, potentially influencing diseases and infection vulnerability. The lab develops innovative chemical biology tools to investigate these questions, helping to further our understanding of cell biology and disease processes.

Dr. Matthew S. Gentry's lab at the University of Florida focuses on how brain metabolism and glycogen storage are linked to neurological diseases, particularly Lafora disease and Alzheimer's disease. They study how abnormal aggregates of glycogen, known as polyglucosan bodies, contribute to disease progression and seek to develop potential therapies to address these conditions. The research aims to understand the cellular mechanisms behind these diseases and to explore therapeutic options to restore healthy brain function.

Dr. Joseph Zaia's lab focuses on improving influenza vaccines by studying how the virus's surface proteins, specifically hemagglutinin (HA), are modified with sugars (glycosylation). By understanding the relationship between these sugar modifications and the immune response they provoke, the team aims to design better vaccines that can be more effective against the ever-evolving virus. This research could lead to the development of a universal vaccine that protects against various strains of the virus.

The MicroED Imaging Center (MEDIC) at UCLA focuses on advancing the Microcrystal Electron Diffraction (MicroED) technique, enabling researchers to determine new molecular structures at atomic resolution from tiny crystals. By combining cutting-edge instrumentation and established crystallography methods, the lab trains individuals and collaborates with various partners to optimize and disseminate this technology. MEDIC aims to support both academic research and broader biomedical applications.

Dr. Adriano Marchese's lab focuses on understanding how GPCR signaling works, particularly looking at a receptor involved in various diseases, including cancer. They aim to uncover the mechanisms behind this signaling to help develop new therapeutic strategies. The lab uses a variety of advanced techniques to study these complex interactions in cell models.