Revealing the mechanisms of cargo routing through the cellular supply chain

Just as cities rely on efficient supply chains to distribute goods, cells use complex delivery networks to transport vital cargo. This research will use advanced microscopy and artificial intelligence to explore how cells sort and move essential molecules within their internal transportation system. We aim to uncover how different cargoes are directed toward their correct destinations—or escape from the expected routes altogether. This project will provide fundamental insights into cellular cargo sorting, with the potential to improve treatments for diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s, to develop more effective strategies for delivering mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, and to impede viral infections.