Hammond Lab
Principal Investigator: Gerald R Hammond
Institution: University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: ✅ Accepting PhD Students
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The plasma membrane (PM) is a bustling hub of transport, signaling and structural functions that sustain life at the cellular level. Failure to appropriately choreograph these parallel functions contributes to the pathogenesis of many diseases. Selective regulation of PM function relies on the cytosolic leaflet phosphoinositide (PPIn) lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. PI(4,5)P2 is a master regulator, recruiting and/or activating scores of proteins controlling PM permeability, vesicular traffic, cytoskeletal assembly and receptor-driven signaling. Human diseases from cancer to rare monogenic disorders are known to be associated with aberrant PI(4,5)P2 levels, which result from disrupted PI(4,5)P2 synthesis or breakdown. That said, the sheer number of PI(4,5)P2-regulated functions has made it challenging to identify which functions contribute to disease phenotype, let alone attempt therapeutic intervention. Therefore, the long-term goal of the lab's research is to develop a detailed, mechanistic understanding of how PPIn metabolism couples to individual physiological processes; ultimately, we aim to use this knowledge to develop strate…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R35GM119412-10: Directing Membrane Function with Inositol Lipids in Health and Disease (2026)
- 5R35GM119412-09: Directing Membrane Function with Inositol Lipids in Health and Disease (2025)
- 5R35GM119412-08: Directing Membrane Function with Inositol Lipids in Health and Disease (2024)
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