Research is directed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of ion channels.
By catalyzing the rapid and selective flow of inorganic ions across cell membranes, these proteins underlie a wide range of cellular processes. Some channels modulate the pace of the heart, some control hormonal secretion, while others mediate the electrical impulses of neurons, which underlie the transfer of information throughout the nervous system. The ultimate goal in the structural effort is to solve the complete structure of the ion channels under study.