Every cell in our body responds to various external
and internal cues by activating signaling pathways which can result in
short and long-term alterations in cellular physiology.
Signaling pathways modulate every aspect of cellular function,
including proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Deciphering
the precise signaling pathways which are activated in response to
various stimuli is critical to understanding both normal cellular
physiology and those pathways which mediate pathologic states.
Investigators in our department are elucidating the signaling
pathways which mediate a wide variety of physiologic and
pathophysiologic states, including growth factor and chemokine
signaling, differentiation, sensory transduction, synaptic plasticity,
oncogenic transformation, viral infection, apoptosis, chronic pain,
spinal cord injury, and neurodegeneration. These studies are aimed at
identifying new therapeutic targets for human diseases.