Our Mission:  the Moleculome

mo•lec•u•lome     \mə-ˈle-kyə-lohm\ The moleuculome is a characterization of reproducible molecular behaviors that give rise to a specific cellular function.  This can be the dynamics of an individual molecule or the reorganization of a structure composed of one or more molecular species in time and space. 

 

 Current projects are led by Jim, Cathy, or run as a multi-PI collaboration:


  • Cell Migration:  Define the cellular decision processes -- the decision modules and signaling pathways that convert extracellular matrix probing into directed cell migration.  Currently funded by NIH.


  • Cytoplasmic Transport Mechanisms:  Define the biophysical mechanisms and physical processes that transport actin monomer during network treadmilling.


  • Metastatic Invasion:  What are the differences in the mechanosensitive structural and signaling hubs that let metastatic cells migrate and invade boundaries that normal cells do not cross?  Currently funded by a grant from the Kuni Foundation.


  • New Imaging and Biophysics Technologies:   All of the biological projects in the lab rely on the application and development of new cutting-edge approaches to make measurements that were previously impossible.  Currently funded by the W.M. Keck Foundation