Dr. Damaris Lorenzo

Biography

Damaris Lorenzo is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, whose research focuses on understanding how membrane cytoskeleton adaptors modulate cellular processes to maintain homeostasis and how their dysregulation can lead to disease. Her work is particularly centered on the role of adaptors in brain development and bioenergetic regulation. Dr. Lorenzo’s research integrates concepts from human genetics, animal physiology, cell biology, and biochemistry. She employs a variety of models, including mice, flies, and differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to decode the cellular and molecular mechanisms of protein adaptors under both normal and pathological conditions. The ultimate goal of her research is to translate genetic information into an understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms that can inform diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. Her team utilizes advanced techniques, including live high-resolution microscopy, proteomics, and gene profiling in animal models of disease.

Research Interests