Drexel University College of Medicine

The research in my laboratory is focused on the mechanisms involved in the generation and transmission of intracellular signals upon stimulation of plasma membrane receptors and their effects on cellular proliferation, adhesion, migration and death.

We are particularly interested in:

1. Cellular and molecular mechanisms contributing to the acquisition of metastatic potential by cancer cells.

2. Generation of calcium signals by intracellular sphingolipids and their interactions with inositol-trisphosphate. We also aim to identify the intracellular channel(s) responsible for sphingolipid-induced calcium release.

3. Neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects induced by the stimulation of chemokine receptors by their natural ligand chemokines and the HIV envelope protein gp120, respectively.