This group seeks to deepen scientific understanding of how biological molecules are assembled, how they interact and how they function.
Faculty, trainees and students in this research group use cutting-edge imaging techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, combined with X-ray crystallography, to reach the basic structure of biological macromolecules, including proteins and multi-protein chains. By reverse engineering, examining and reassembling these macromolecular machines, we can better understand their physiological function in the body and their role in health and disease. And with emerging technologies and techniques on the horizon, such as artificial intelligence applied to electron microscopic data, we are breaking new ground in the field of structural biology.
Current areas of study in this research group with translational clinical implications include:
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Developing novel anti-fungal therapies
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Viral pathogens
Faculty
Carlos R. Escalante, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Carlos R. Escalante, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Assistant Graduate Program Director
VCU MARC Undergraduate Program Codirector
Research interests: Structural biology of ssDNA viruses and regulation of transcription and replication processes using x-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy
Email: carlos.escalante@vcuhealth.org
Qinglian Liu, Ph.D.
Professor
Qinglian Liu, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Structural and functional analysis of Hsp70/Hsp110 molecular chaperones for treating fungal infections, cancers and neurodegenerative diseases
Email: qinglian.liu@vcuhealth.org
I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Structural bases of ion channel gating and permeation; automated high-throughput electrophysiology; targeting ion channels for novel therapeutic approaches to treat neuroinflammation, deafness and inflammatory airway disease
Email: ian.ramsey@vcuhealth.org
Montserrat Samso, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Montserrat Samso, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Core Director CryoEM
Co-Director of the VCU Structural Biology Core Laboratory
Research interests: Structure-function of macromolecular machines using cryo-electron microscopy; ultrastructure of muscle to understand cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders
Email: montserrat.samso@vcuhealth.org