Dr. Melody Campbell studies how cells communicate and interact with their surroundings. She is an expert in using cryogenic electron microscopy, or cryo-EM, a microscopy technique that allows scientists study the structure of proteins in a more physiologic environment. She hopes to understand how a protein’s structure influences its function. She uses cryo-EM to study integrins, proteins that help cells communicate and move. Integrins are more flexible than many other proteins and adopt several different conformations that are linked to their activation state. Campbell focuses on a family of integrin proteins that stud the surface of white blood cells and play a role in various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. She aims to create a detailed picture of integrin form and function as a step toward targeted therapeutics.
