Horwitz, Alan F.
Primary Appointment
Professor of Research, Cell Biology
Education
- BA, Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison
- PhD, Biophysics, Stanford University
- Postdoc, NMR, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Contact Information
PO Box 800732
Telephone: 434-243-6813
Email: afh2n@virginia.edu
Website: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~afh2n
Research Disciplines
Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience
Research Interests
Synapse Formation and Cell Migration in Normal and Pathobiology-Adhesion, Signaling, Imaging and Proteomics
Research Description
Our major research goal is to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie directed
cell migration from its initiation to its termination. This interest stems from
the pivotal role of migration in a variety of normal and pathological processes
extending from the development to the adult. During development, for example,
cells migrate from their birthplaces to distant locations where they then differentiate.
While this process is repeated throughout the embryo, it plays out spectacularly
in the nervous system. Neuronal precursors migrate from their birthplaces to their
final residences and then proceed to extend neuronal growth cones to their targets,
where they form synaptic connections with appropriate target cells. In this context,
it is no surprise that a large fraction of the congenital brain and heart defects
arise from perturbed cell migration. Migration contributes to numerous pathological
phenomena as well. It plays a pivotally role in the formation of tumors, which
requires the invasion of vasculature as well as in metastasis, the spread of tumors
from the primary tumor mass to distant sites where secondary tumors form. Migration
also contributes to other disease processes including chronic inflammatory diseases,
via leukocyte invasion and vascular disease via smooth muscle migration. Finally,
migration participates centrally in normal tissue regeneration and wound repair.
Current research projects include: a) the assembly and disassembly of
adhesions, b) the trafficking of adhesion components,
c) characterizing the migration proteome d) developing
in vivo systems for studying migration e) developing
new imaging technologies for migration studies, and f) studying
mechanisms of synapse formation and spine dynamics. While most of our
studies utilize migrating fibroblasts and neuronal cells, we are interested in
any aspect of migration and migration related phenomena - from embryonic development
to cancer and regeneration.