Melody Campbell, Ph.D.

Research

The Campbell lab will explore the structural changes in cell-surface receptors that allow activated white blood cells to locate and fight infections. White blood cells are essential components in the battle against foreign intruders; when alerted to signs of invasion, these cells will crawl out of the blood vessels that carry them and into an infected tissue—behaviors that are mediated by cell-surface receptors including integrins. Dysregulation of integrin function has been linked to autoimmune diseases and cancer, yet drug development to target integrins has been slow due to gaps in the molecular understanding of how integrins are activated. I have developed sophisticated methods for characterizing the conformational changes integrins undergo when they interact with different binding partners. Combining this approach with cutting-edge techniques in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural analysis, my lab will characterize how integrins recognize the molecules that signal infection, how these interactions drive their structural rearrangements, and how interrupting these dynamic changes alters white blood cells’ behavior. My findings could lead to the design of novel therapeutics for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and even cancer.