Research Interests

Cell-cell interactions affect many aspects of cell behavior, including growth, differentiation and the establishment of normal tissue architecture. Loss of expression or function of components present in cell-cell interactions has been found in carcinomas and correlates with poor prognostic outcome in cancer patients. Cells have several mechanisms for linking to their neighbors. These so-called "cell junctions" consist of proteins that assemble into different structures such as gap junctions, tight junctions, adherens junctions, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes, each with specialized functions. Cell-cell junctions of the zonula adherens are prominent in epithelia and are rich in transmembrane adhesive receptors known as cadherins. The cytoplasmic tail of cadherins binds numerous proteins that serve as molecular couplers, linking cell surface adhesion and recognition to both the actin cytoskeleton and cell signaling pathways. A major focus of the work in my lab is to understand cellular mechanisms involved in assembly and maintenance of cell-cell adhesions by examining the function and regulation of proteins recruited to the cytoplasmic face of cadherins.

demalifigure2

Figure 2: Adherens junction components

A second focus of our laboratory is to understand how dysfunctional adhesion receptors contribute to tumor cell survival and metastasis. Melanoma is the only cancer whose incidence and mortality rates are increasing. Melanoma is an unusually lethal cancer as it metastasizes early and is highly resistant to all standard chemotherapeutic agents. Integrins, the major cell surface adhesion receptors of mammalian cells, play well recognized roles in regulating melanoma survival and metastasis. There is strong evidence that increased expression of integrins in melanoma cells drives metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. Unfortunately, the mechanisms by which integrins fuel melanoma resistance are not well understood. We have identified a novel peptide that targets integrins from within the cell and sensitizes melanomas to chemotherapy. We are elucidating the novel mechanism of action of this peptide and its potential to be employed to overcome melanoma resistance so that new combinatorial methods for treating melanoma patients can be developed.

Picture 2

Events

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Tonglei Li, PhD promotional image

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Tonglei Li, PhD

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 11:30am
College of Pharmacy Building

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics (PSET) in the College of Pharmacy will host a seminar presented by: 

Tonglei Li, PhD
Allen Chao Chair and Professor
Industrial and Physical Pharmacy
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana

All are welcome to attend. No pre-registration required.

Seminar Title: "Manifold Learning of Molecular Quantum Information"

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Leslie Benet, PhD promotional image

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Leslie Benet, PhD

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 11:30am
College of Pharmacy Building

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics (PSET) in the College of Pharmacy will host a seminar presented by: 

Leslie Benet, PhD
Professor
Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California

All are welcome to attend. No pre-registration required.

Seminar Title: "Simplifying the Application and Teaching of Clinical Pharmacokinetics"

College of Pharmacy PSET Seminar Series: Robin Bogner, PhD

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 11:30am
College of Pharmacy Building

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics (PSET) in the College of Pharmacy will host a seminar presented by: 

Robin Bogner, PhD
Director, Kildsig Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research (CPPR)
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut

All are welcome to attend. No pre-registration required.

View more events