We are an experimental research group in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Our laboratory is focused on using mass spectrometry-based proteomics to discover new biology, identify therapeutic targets, and develop novel immunotherapies in hematologic malignancies (blood cancers).
Our major hypothesis is that “biology happens at the protein level” – i.e. RNA-level analysis is not enough. This is particularly true when investigating biological signatures driven by protein post-translational modifications, protein-protein interactions, and altered sub-cellular localization.
To achieve these goals, our inter-disciplinary group aims to integrate proteomics-based screening with “multi-omics” bioinformatics, clinical data, epigenetic methods, genome engineering, antibody engineering, cellular engineering, chemical biology, and mechanistic biology. In particular, significant efforts in the lab are focused on using cell surface proteomics in combination with emerging technologies in our group to develop novel cancer immunotherapies. We have significant interest in the development of novel cellular therapies for cancer as well as antibody and other protein-based therapeutics.
We are part of the UCSF Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, the UCSF Dept. of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the UCSF Bakar ImmunoX Program.
The UCSF Stephen and Nancy Grand Multiple Myeloma Translational Initiative Laboratory is also housed within our group. In this capacity, we aim to push forward the development and validation of new therapeutic strategies in multiple myeloma, a currently incurable malignancy of plasma cells and the second most common hematologic malignancy in the United States.
