Andersen Lab
Principal Investigator: Joshua Lyon Andersen
Institution: University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: ✅ Hiring Postdocs
Research Focus
PROJECT SUMMARY This MIRA/R35 application is designed to replace our NIGMS R01 GM147310-01 and a recent NIGMS R01 application that was scored on first submission but rejected based on not being able to have two simultaneous NIGMS R01s. Following NIGMS advice, I have consolidated these projects into this MIRA application. Our overarching goal is to uncover fundamental cell signaling mechanisms that can be therapeutically targeted in disease. All projects began with PTM discovery approaches and have now grown into multi-pronged efforts that span molecular biology/biochemistry, structural biology, and drug development. The first project addresses the regulation and function of kinases in the understudied ‘dark kinome’, with current focus on an unusual ubiquitin- binding non-receptor tyrosine kinase called TNK1 (currently funded by GM147310-01). C-terminal truncations in TNK1 convert it into an oncogenic driver, yet it’s normal “day job” function and mechanism of regulation are still poorly understood. We also developed the first TNK1 small molecule inhibitor, TP5801, which has passed IND hurdles for phase-I trials but lacks clear clinical direction due to our still nascent understandi…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R35GM158333-02: PTM-driven mechanisms of cell signaling (2026)
- 1R35GM158333-01: PTM-driven mechanisms of cell signaling (2025)
- 5R01GM147310-04: The Regulation and Function of the Ubiquitin-Sensing Kinase TNK1 (2024)
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