Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology
Brown University, Box G-B3
171 Meeting Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02912
USA

Research Interests

Podosomes in vascular smooth muscle cells and their pathophysiological role in proliferative vascular diseases are our general area of interest. PKC, Erk1/2 MAPK, and caldesmon-dependent regulation of podosome dynamics is our current research focus. PKC and Erk1/2 MAPK are signaling molecules involved in the regulation of podosome turnover. Caldesmon is an actin-binding protein involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal remodeling and contractility. Erk/12 MAPK and caldesmon are both regulated by phosphorylation. Dysfunction in the expression and/or phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and caldesmon may contribute to the invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells from media to intima in proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.