Kevin Gardner

The Gardner Lab studies the atomic-level mechanisms of proteins used by cells to sense and respond to changes around them. Using techniques including structural biology, biochemistry, protein engineering, and drug discovery, the group’s studies have led to advances in fundamental biology and established novel routes to artificially control protein activity in two key areas: photosensing and O2-regulation. Breakthroughs from the lab including detailed understanding of the photochemically-triggered structural changes in blue light photosensors and identifying novel “weak points” within proteins for small molecule regulation. This work has also led directly to two companies spun out of the group which developed new targeted cancer therapies used in the clinic (Peloton Therapeutics, leading to Merck’s belzutifan drug) and optogenetic biotechnology tools for controlling gene expression with light (Optologix). Linkages to NanoBioNYC are many, particularly in the areas of promoting interdisciplinary research among biochemists, chemists, and engineers to understand how natural proteins work and how to artificially control them.