My laboratory focuses on studies directed toward understanding the molecular basis of genitourinary tract pathobiology, with a primary focus on signal transduction in cancer.

Our major areas of interest are: (1) Molecular mechanisms of cancer progression, including the role of ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase pathway signaling, the role of kinase pathways in regulating the androgen receptor, the inter-relationship between cell death and survival mechanisms in cancer cells, and mechanisms of lipid involvement in signal transduction. (2) Mechanisms of modulation of cancer cell motile behavior, particularly the transition between the mesenchymal and amoeboid phenotypes. (3) Regulation of shedding of membrane-contained particles by tumor cells and their role in modifying the tumor microenvironment. (4) Lipid rafts and signal transduction, particularly the role of cholesterol. (5) Regulation of smooth muscle cell growth and phenotypic differentiation, particularly by the ErbB1 ligand heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). (6) Proteomics. Our laboratory is immediately adjacent to the Proteomics Center at Children's Hospital. We are using state-of-the-art proteomics and informatics tools to study multi-protein complexes, particularly in the Akt signaling and EGF receptor trafficking pathways, as well as lipidation of signaling proteins. We are also applying discovery approaches to uncovering novel disease biomarkers.

Analysis of palmitoylated proteins on a proteome scale. Yang, W., Di Vizio, D., Kirchner, M., Steen, H., and Freeman, M.R. Proteome scale characterization of human S-acylated proteins in lipid raft-enriched and non-raft membranes. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 9(1):54-70, 2010.

Children's Hospital Boston George M. O'Brien Urology Research Center NIH funding renewed!

Michael R. Freeman, Ph.D.
John F. Enders Research Laboratories
Suite 1161
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
617-919-2644 (office)
617-730-0238 (fax)
Michael.Freeman@childrens.harvard.edu