The Modis Lab Ian Berke
Research Interests
Vertebrates rely on innate immune receptors to sense chemical structures from invading microbes. The goal of my research is to understand at the molecular level how viral RNA in the cytoplasm is recognized by the proteins RIG-I and MDA5. These receptors are critical for limiting viral infection and priming the adaptive immune system. Many viruses recognized by this pathway have evolved mechanisms for inhibiting its signaling and some newer vaccine adjuvant therapies target the Rig-I/MDA5 pathway to stimulate robust immune responses. Despite much interest, little is still understood about how these proteins detect, integrate and propogate pathogen-associated molecular patterns. My research focuses on determining the molecular structure of these proteins. Much the way that examining a clock's gears can tell us how it works, examining the proteins' structures will provide the clues we need to understand and manipulate them for new vaccines and drugs.
- 2008-2010 Postdoctoral Associate, Modis Laboratory, Yale University.
- 2007-2008 AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, Dept. of Health and Human Services
- 2005-2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Collins Laboratory, Cornell University
- 2000-2005 Ph.D. at The Rockefeller University (Blobel Laboratory)
- 1996-2000 B.S., Cornell University
- 2010 Yale Scientific Teaching Fellow
- 2007 AAAS S&T Policy Fellowship
- 2007 NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship
- 1999 Heather Lochmuller Award, NIEHS Summer Program
A full list of publications can be found here