Research Description

Our work links instrumentation, computation, and translation. We aim to uncover how molecular-scale events give rise to emergent cellular behaviors and how that knowledge can be turned toward therapy.

Advanced microscopy

We develop and apply fluorescence microscopy approaches that resolve intracellular dynamics at high spatial and temporal resolution. Techniques include TIRF microscopy, structured illumination microscopy, and variable-angle illumination selectively visualizing membrane-proximal processes like clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

We pair instrumentation with computational imaging that incorporates deep learning, temporal information, and three-dimensional data to extract super-resolution insight from live-cell datasets, bridging the gap between high-resolution imaging and fast cellular dynamics.

By integrating optical instrumentation, quantitative analysis, and machine learning, we aim to uncover how molecular-scale events give rise to emergent cellular behaviors in space and time.

Advanced analytics

Because intracellular processes are dynamic and heterogeneous, we build analysis frameworks that move beyond descriptive imaging toward rigorous quantitative inference. Our methods include particle detection and tracking, intensity-based growth-rate analysis, and trajectory classification.

By combining experimental measurements with analytical and computational models, we link observed fluorescence signals to molecular processes - adaptor recruitment, curvature generation, vesicle formation.

Overall, our goal is to transform rich imaging datasets into predictive, mechanistic understanding of cellular processes.

Therapeutics

We explore how cellular mechanics and membrane trafficking can be leveraged to improve therapeutic outcomes - particularly in cancer. The physical state of a cell, its stiffness, membrane tension, and trafficking activity, directly influences how it responds to external signals.

We have shown that perturbing endocytic pathways can sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis. Building on this, we investigate small-molecule "mechanosensitizers" that shift the physical and trafficking properties of tumor cells to make them more vulnerable to immune-mediated killing.

Our approach integrates biophysics, live-cell imaging, and translational research to identify strategies that complement existing therapies such as immunotherapy. The long-term goal is to develop new treatment paradigms where tuning the mechanical and trafficking state of cells enhances therapeutic efficacy while maintaining safety.