Dr. Falke's laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms of membrane-based lipid signaling pathways that enable eukaryotic cells to (i) follow chemical trails in innate immunity and development, (ii) generate growth signals in normal and unregulated cell growth, (iii) engulf, or phagocytose, extracellular pathogens or damaged tissue in innate immunity, and (iv) engulf, or autophagocytose, intracellular pathogens and aging components. The work is revealing fundamental insights into the molecular nature of lipid signaling on membrane surfaces important in signaling biology, immunology, cancer biology and medicine. The lab is also developing tools widely useful in biochemistry and biophysics.
keywords
biochemistry and biophysics of cellular signaling pathways and membrane proteins, macrophage chemotaxis and phagocytosis, cancer, inflammation, innate immunity
