Ion Channels and Membrane Signaling Research Group

Membrane ion channels mediate neuronal action potentials and synaptic transmission and excitation-contraction coupling in muscle. Membrane transporters control ion flux and salt homeostasis in all cells. These proteins localize to plasma and intracellular organelle membranes, transducing environmental stimuli into intracellular signaling cascades, to regulate neuronal, cardiac, skeletal muscle, and neuroendocrine physiology. Faculty in the Department of Physiology are internationally recognized for their research into the fundamental molecular, biophysical, structural, and physiological aspects of membrane and intracellular signaling, underlying human health and disease. Labs within the department use a range of techniques from single molecule, electrophysiological, imaging, molecular, and transgenics to probe physiology and pathophysiology from stem cells, to organoids, to integrative animal models and gene therapy.

Faculty & Research Interests

• Toni Antalis, Membrane-anchored serine proteases, thrombosis and vascular biology
• Tom Blanpied, Synaptic proteins and neurotransmission
• Mordecai Blaustein, Pumps, hormone receptors, and signal transduction
• Robert J. Bloch, Skeletal muscle structure and signaling, Muscular Dystrophy
• Liron Boyman, Cardiac physiology, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and calcium signaling
• Chunzhang Cao, integrin CD11b in cardio-cerebrovascular diseases
• Ivy Dick, Calcium channels, neuronal and cardiac channelopathies
• Shengyun Fang, ER protein quality control and proteostasis-targeted drug discovery
• Vivek Garg, Biophysics of mitochondrial membranes. Calcium signaling and mitochondrial bioenergetics.
• John Hamlyn, Sodium and calcium homeostasis
• Joseph P. Y. Kao, Developing optical, MR and EPR molecular probes; erythrocyte biology; calcium signaling
• Tom Longden, Vascular ion channels and blood flow
• Bruce K. Krueger, Gene-Environment interactions in neurodevelopmental disorders
• W. Jon Lederer, Calcium signaling and cardiac physiology
• Andrea L. Meredith, Potassium Channels, membrane excitability, and neuromuscular channelopathies 
• Megan A. Rizzo, Genetically-encoded biosensors and beta cell physiology  
• Matthew C. Trudeau, Biophysical Mechanisms, Regulation and Channelopathies in the hERG Family of Voltage-Activated Potassium Channels 
• Bruce Vogel, Sensory neuron cilia, photoreceptor physiology, macular degeneration, elegans
• Owen Woodward, Urate transporter
• Li Zhang, Leukocyte integrins in cardiovascular and neurological diseases
• Guiling Zhao, Ca²⁺ signaling and ion channels in coronary blood flow control