Our Projects

How do billion of cells connect with such precision via trillions of interactions to assemble the human neural circuits? This question remains central as we strive to understand the patterns of connections that determine our thoughts and behavior along with neural circuit assembly errors, which could result in neurological disorders - ranging from autism to mood disorders. Protocadherins are cell surface proteins that allow neurons to discriminate between self and non-self contact and prevent them from entanglement. We study the interactions of protocadherins to understand how ~50 protocadherin proteins provide neurons with the unique surface identity essential for their function.

The immune system relies on surface receptors to regulate activation and maintain tolerance.

We study the molecular mechanisms of immune checkpoint proteins, with a focus on how interactions occur on the same cell surface (cis) and how membrane constraints influence signaling. Understanding these processes may open new directions for modulating immune responses.

Cell-surface proteins do not act in isolation—they assemble into dynamic clusters and complexes.

We examine how spatial organization and membrane context influence protein interactions, signaling strength, and specificity. This includes studying how clustering and geometry shape biological outcomes.

We use computational and evolutionary approaches to understand how protein families expand and diversify, and how new interaction specificities emerge.