Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms play key roles in the normal functioning of the organism and in multiple pathologies. My lab is focusing on characterization of basic mechanisms of PCD using a multidisciplinary approach that combines chemical biology, based on the systematic selection and use of small molecules to dissect intrinsic regulatory networks, with cell biological and biochemical approaches. We hope that our approach will not only produce exciting new insights into endogenous cellular regulatory networks, but also provide novel therapeutic agents to target cell death associated with human pathologies.

We have recently defined a new mechanism of regulated necrosis-like cell death, which we termed necroptosis, and reported that it prominently contributes to ischemic injury in various tissues. In addition, my lab is interested in dissecting the signaling events triggered by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase through its lipid product, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 signaling plays a central role in the regulation of cell death, proliferation, cell motility and many other cellular functions.

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