RESEARCH & DISCOVERIES
The multidisciplinary nature of our Lab has been our major strength. Our research fits into the scope of soft condensed matter physics, computational chemistry, even quantitative biology!
We are studying fundamentals like thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure of biomolecular assembly using the tools of statistical mechanics, machine learning, data science, and molecular simulation in order to develop new materials, drugs, and diagnostics. Our lab’s grand mission is to improve the human condition, specifically human health.
LIQUID-LIQUID PHASE SEPARATION AND PHASE TRANSITIONS
One focus area in our lab is the study of phase separation phenomena and biocondensates, which are crucial for understanding cellular organization and are implicated in various diseases. Our research aims to uncover the dynamics of biocondensate formation, stabilization, and dissolution, along with their phase behavior and properties. The GHZ lab seeks to fill this gap and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms governing biocondensate behavior and their role in diseases. Moreover, we aim to unveil the mechanics and phase behavior of organic component crystallization and nucleation phenomena for the design of drug formulations and stabilization methods.
INTRINSICALLY DISORDERED PROTEINS AS CANCER TARGETS
One focus area in the GHZ lab is cancer targets that are traditionally considered undruggable and include a special class of proteins, called intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs lack a stable three-dimensional folded structure, i.e. they are structurally "disordered" as their name implies. They exist as an ‘ensemble’ of configurations of similar stability. The vast majority of proteins implicated in human cancers are either IDPs or have large intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Many of these cancer targets are still considered “undruggable” mostly due to the paucity of high-resolution methodologies that can offer a fundamental understanding of these targets. The computational expertise in the GHZ lab offers a promising avenue to fill in this gap.
BIOMOLECULAR ASSEMBLY IN COMPLEX MEDIA
As a part of our major focus area, undruggable cancer targets, we are very interested in exploring biomolecular assembly in complex media. Specifically, liquid-liquid phase separation of IDPs in crowded milieu, as implicated in human diseases, is an area that we are currently working on.
RNA STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS
Being one of the most versatile molecules of life, RNAs fold into a range of structures from simple helix-loops to complex tertiary structures and quaternary ribonucleoprotein assemblies. Their cellular functions largely depend on how their structure responds to different thermodynamic conditions. Being somewhat similar to IDPs, RNAs also exists as dynamic ensembles of conformations of similar stability (sampled over a range of timescales). Another active area in the GHZ lab focuses on a fundamental understanding of RNA structure and dynamics in ribonucleoprotein assemblies.
CARBON NANOMATERIALS FOR DRUG DELIVERY
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