Walter Chazin, Ph.D.
Chancellor's Chair, Department of Medicine
Director of Honors and Independent Research, Molecular Biophysics Training Program
- : walter.chazin@Vanderbilt.Edu
- : (615) 936-2210
- :
5140 MRBIII
- : More Information/Publications
Areas of Interest: Cancer Biology; Infectious Diseases and Immunity; Cell Signaling; Protein Structure & Function; Spectroscopy; X-ray Crystallography
Our laboratory investigates the structural basis for recognition, biochemical function and biological specificity of proteins and nucleic acids. Specifically, we study systems involved in bacterial pathogenesis, cell signaling, and cancer at the molecular level. Rather than focusing on specific techniques, we take a problem-oriented approach and use whichever techniques are necessary to answer the question at hand. Often, this requires complementary application of structural approaches including spectroscopy, scattering, crystallography and microscopy. We also prioritize tight coupling of our research to functional analysis. This strategy is by nature very collaborative and collegial, and has stimulated involvement in many multi-investigator projects.