Dr. Alfred Merrill

Biography

Alfred H. Merrill is an Emeritus Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the School of Biological Sciences. His research focuses on sphingolipids, a category of lipids vital for cell structure, signaling, and communication. He has investigated the role of sphingomyelinase D from the venom of the brown recluse spider, which produces a unique compound, ceramide 1,3-cyclic phosphate. Merrill's work aims to understand how these molecules interact within various organisms and their potential implications for human health, particularly in reducing injury caused by environmental encounters with these enzymes. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including tandem mass spectrometry and lipidomic analysis to characterize sphingolipids and their metabolic changes in health and disease, particularly in cancer. He also explores dietary sphingolipids and their role in forming the body's sphingolipidome.

Research Interests