How cells choose
life or death
Every cell must decide whether to survive, adapt, or self-destruct. We study the molecular switches behind these decisions across neurons, virus-infected cells, cancer cells, baker’s yeast, and pathogenic fungi.
By comparing life-and-death programs across species, we uncover mechanisms that may help protect the brain, control cancer, and combat infection.
to understand these decisions, we ask how cells…
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How do proteins best known for causing or preventing death support mitochondrial energy production, membrane structure, and neuronal activity in healthy cells?
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How do stress, infection, and caspases transform protective proteins into powerful promoters of cell death?
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What can yeast and pathogenic fungi teach us about genome evolution, neurodegeneration, and new ways to control infection?
