Signal Transduction
The molecular and cellular mechanisms of how cells transduce
information is a major thematic focus in the Department of Pharmacology.
Specifically, research is directed at understanding signaling
from initial ligand binding to cellular receptors, peptide receptor
ligands, propagation by signaling cascades in the cell, and culmination
in a cellular response. Novel imaging techniques are used to
visualize intracellular signaling in real time in live cells,
and biochemical, molecular biological, cellular and biophysical
approaches are used to elucidate fundamental molecular and cellular
mechanisms. Research projects include understanding pathways
that regulate the balance between cell survival and cell death,
neuronal development, bacterial pathogenesis, cell growth and
proliferation, and inflammation.
