Cell Signaling

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.