Choi Lab
Principal Investigator: Eunhee Choi
Institution: Columbia University (New York, NY)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: Inquire for rotation/fellowship opportunities
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this MIRA renewal application is to understand how ligand engagement and receptor conformation drive selective signaling, and how these signals are regulated by spatial and temporal mechanisms. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor signaling constitute an evolutionarily conserved network—primarily through the AKT and ERK pathways—that governs growth, metabolism, and homeostasis across metazoans. Dysregulation of this pathway contributes to developmental abnormalities, aging-related phenotypes, and diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Although the insulin receptor (IR) and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) share structural similarity and activate overlapping signaling cascades, their ligand preferences and biological functions are distinct. Recent studies have revealed significant cell-type specificity and complexity in insulin–IGF receptor signaling across functionally distinct physiological and pathological contexts. Moreover, beyond canonical ligand- induced activation, receptor clustering at the cell surface and within intracellular compartments further modulates signaling specificity and strength. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying thi…
Active NIH Awards
- 2R35GM142937-06: Understanding Selective Signaling and Functional Specificity in Insulin and IGF Receptors (2026)
- 1R21TR006115-01: Targeted Therapy Using Designer Insulin Receptor Agonists for Congenital Severe Insulin Resistance Syndromes (2026)
- 5R35GM142937-05: Investigation of the role of insulin receptor in chromosome stability. (2025)
- 5R01DK132361-03: Spatiotemporal control of insulin signaling by mitotic regulators (2024)
- 5R35GM142937-04: Investigation of the role of insulin receptor in chromosome stability. (2024)
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