My research focuses on the mechanisms by which biological systems harness the generation of reactive species to modulate cell signaling pathways and maintain physiological homeostasis. My group is particularly interested in elucidating the mechanisms that result in the formation of electrophilic species in vivo. Electrophiles can regulate enzymatic and transcription factor function via covalent modification of reactive cysteine residues. In this regard, our overarching hypothesis is that the endogenous generation of electrophilic species in vivo is a conserved mechanism for maintaining physiological homeostasis and regulating inflammatory responses. Enabled by collaboration with basic and clinical scientists, we have studied the effects of endogenous electrophiles in pathological conditions such as sickle cell disease, acute and chronic renal injury, as well as cardiac arrest, both at the pre-clinical and clinical level. Finally, and in line with extensive expertise at the Center for Free Radical Biology, I maintain a keen interest in general redox biochemistry as well as in nitric oxide and metallo-protein biology.
