Duke University · BiologyThe Invasion Dynamics Lab
David R Sherwood · Durham, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. David Sherwood's lab at Duke University focuses on understanding how cells invade through the basement membrane, a crucial structure surrounding tissues. This research is significant because cell invasion plays a role in both healthy processes like tissue development and in diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. By using the model organism C. elegans, the lab explores how cells manage energy and create structures necessary for breaching these membranes, which could lead to better treatments for diseases involving abnormal cell invasion.
cell invasionbasement membraneC. eleganscellular energeticslipid biosynthesismetastatic cancermatrix metalloproteinasestherapeutic strategiescell membrane dynamics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Characterize how invading cells use energy to breach the basement membrane.
AIM 02Investigate how lipid biosynthesis contributes to cell invasion.
AIM 03Elucidate mechanisms preventing plasma membrane damage during invasion.
AIM 04Understand how cells adapt their invasion strategies in the absence of matrix metalloproteinases.
AIM 05Explore the molecular events guiding energy and adhesion dynamics during cell invasion.
Skills the Lab Values
subcellular visual analysisgenome editingcell culture techniquesfunctional genomicsmolecular activity sensorscell-type specific genetic manipulationATP measurementlipid analysisin vivo imaging
Output against the department
Publications191top 33% of dept.346th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.5kbottom 41% of dept.612th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.