Text Box: We are interested in how proteins accumulate in the correct organelle within a cell. Our research strives to explain how defects in membrane traffic leads to cancer, defects in the immune system and other diseases. We study membrane traffic between the trans-Golgi network and endosomal organelles. This central feature of eukaryotic cell biology is important for functions of the human body including the ability to recognize and destroy infective agents such as bacteria and viruses, sugar uptake in response to insulin and the proper reaction of cells to growth factors-a feature important in normal development and that is often inappropriately regulated in cancer. We have two main types of projects in the lab; characterizing protein-protein interactions important for membrane traffic and identifying synthetic chemical compounds that regulate membrane traffic. Projects utilize biochemical, genetic, and cell biological techniques. We use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism for much of our work, this easy to grow and genetically tractable organism is a powerful first line of attack to many problems, however we apply concepts learned and chemical identified in the yeast system to mammalian tissue culture models. Some exciting new projects will involve the use of high throughput chemical screening, whole genome genetics and expression arrays.