Dr. William Hancock's lab focuses on understanding how tiny motor proteins, called kinesin and dynein, transport materials within cells, especially in neurons. They study the molecular mechanics of this transport system which is crucial for neuron function and is affected in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. The lab also investigates how microtubules, the structures that support this transport, grow and shrink, which is essential for cell division and neuron development.

Dr. Justin Pritchard's lab at Penn State focuses on studying tyrosine kinases, which are important proteins involved in many human diseases, including cancer. By combining experimental and computational techniques, the lab aims to understand how genetic variations in these proteins influence their function and responses to drugs. This research could lead to better predictions of disease risk and treatment outcomes for patients.