Suzanne Scarlata Presents at International Forum on Research Excellence November 10

Suzanne Scarlata, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, will present a Keynote Thought Session at iFoRE, the International Forum on Research Excellence, titled “The Effects of Hormones, Allergens, Neurotransmitters and Drugs: How Cells Communicate with the Outside World.”

Scarlata, a biophysical chemist who combines fluorescence imaging with cell biology methods to uncover mechanisms through which cells communicate with their environment, notes that “Every living cell needs to communicate with its outside environment to find water, nutrients and other cells. Cells regularly receive molecular external cues that let them know whether the time is right to growth, divide or move. Our lab studies one of the key communication networks in mammalian cells that are responsive for movement, allergies and feelings of happiness. These surprisingly diverse functions are mediated by a single family of molecules called Gαq, and because of their importance, these molecules are important pharmacological targets. This lecture will discuss established old and newly discovered functions of Gαq to try to understand how it can impact so many diverse functions.”

Scarlata will present Friday, November 10, 2023. The theme of this year’s conference is Visions of Ethical Research. Learn more here.