Computational Biology
We use functional genomics techniques, including genetic interaction screens and high-throughput cell biology, to study how eukaryotic cells transmit high fidelity copies of the genome from one generation to the next. Maintaining the integrity of the genome is central to biology, and is relevant to cancer, aging, and stem cell renewal.
Our research involves both analytical and computational modeling. Our computation projects focus on: Intrinsically disordered proteins, atomic simulations of solvent-mediated interactions, biophysical models of protein evolution, cooperativity and nonnative interactions in folding, mathematical basis of type-2 topoisomerase action. For the computational effort, we employ codes developed by ourselves for coarse-grained biomolecular modeling as well as common molecular dynamics packages.
The Davidson laboratory focuses on bacteriophages, the viruses that infect bacteria. They investigate how phages work, and how phage-derived entities can be utilized for applications in human health. We also have discovered and study anti-CRISPRs, which are phage-encoded inhibitors of CRISPR-Cas systems. We endeavour to understand how they work, and how they can be exploited in genome editing applications.
The Ensminger lab is interested in the evolution, persistence, and disease-inducing characteristics of microbial pathogens. We focus our attention primarily on Legionella pneumophila, a bacterial pathogen that maintains the microbial world’s largest known arsenal of translocated effectors. We use a variety of approaches, from advanced sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, microbial genetics, high-throughput genetic and chemogenetic screening, and experimental evolution.
The Forman-Kay lab works on projects relevant to cancer and neurobiology. They investigate the phase separation of disordered proteins in RNA processing bodies, a key regulatory process for neurological function. Their work also offers widely recognized contributions to the fields of intrinsically disordered proteins, protein interaction domains, and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) structure, dynamics, and interactions.
Lemaire Lab
The lab’s main aim is translational research that pertains to rare paediatric kidney diseases using genomic tools for gene discovery followed by careful functional dissection of candidate genes using cutting-edge microscopic, cell biology and biochemical methods.
The Maynes lab focuses on three main areas that attempt to combine clinical paediatrics and anaesthesia with research in biophysics: (1) the mechanism of anaesthetic action and anaesthetic off-targets, (2) proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics, (3) cardiac disease and cardiac contractility and, (4) high-content imaging and image analysis.
Our lab focuses on the structural and functional characterization of protein and ion translocation machineries within the membranes of pathogenic bacteria. We use primarily X-ray crystallography in combination with other molecular approaches to gain a detailed understanding of how these membrane protein complexes function.
Norris Lab
Research in the Norris lab investigates the structure and molecular assembly of deadly RNA viruses, with a special emphasis on paramyxoviruses (measles virus, mumps virus, Nipah virus, parainfluenza virus) and filoviruses (Ebola virus & Marburg virus). We use structural biology (X-ray crystallography and electron cryomicroscopy), functional biochemistry, cellular biology, and basic virology to understand the molecular mechanisms driving viral self-assembly.
Research in the Parkinson lab is largely driven through the development and application of computational methods. We work with an extensive network of clinicians, parasitologists and immunologists to generate and analyse genomic, metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and metabolomic datasets from a variety of patient and environmental samples.
The Pomès group specializes in the development of computational methods and their application to the study of biological processes. In particular, we seek to uncover the link between the structure, dynamics, and function of proteins. Our work is grounded in statistical mechanics, which provides a formal connection between microscopic and macroscopic length scales.
Our lab studies the functional role of genome organization in cell fate decisions – at the single-molecule level & across biological scales. Our work bridges cell & developmental biology, computational biology, biochemistry & systems biology. We push the boundaries of high-throughput image-based spatial omics & bioimage analysis to answer fundamental questions and gain insights into in vivo chromatin biology.
Our research group aims to decode the genomic and cellular mechanisms of sleep using comparative approaches across vertebrate species. Our approaches are interdisciplinary and intersect the research areas of functional genomics, bioinformatics, cell & molecular biology, neurobiology, and evolution. We are interested in all species, with particular emphasis on diverse groups of fish, including cichlids from the African Rift Lakes.
Yip Lab
Research at the Yip Lab focuses on the development and application of super-resolution combinatorial microscopies for imaging of molecular assemblies, structures, and dynamics. Recent projects include studies of peptide and protein-membrane interactions in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, the design of novel antimicrobial agents, and membrane receptor self-association with implications for cell signaling in infection and cancers.