Current Research
Mentor: Jorge Galán, DVM, PhD
Virulent human pathogens hijack the cell’s movement machinery to travel within cells and spread between cells during infection. Rudy Urbano wants to understand how human cells defend themselves against these microbial tricks. Using advanced imaging and genetic techniques, he’s untangling the mechanisms by which human cells activate proteins to block invaders. This detailed understanding of how cells stymie disease could lead to new strategies for treating infections.