Dr. Derek Toomre

Biography

Derek Toomre is a professor at the Yale School of Medicine, specializing in Cell Biology. His research primarily focuses on Cellular Imaging Analysis and Polarized Membrane Traffic. He aims to develop and apply state-of-the-art multidimensional optical methods to understand the mechanisms of polarized membrane trafficking and the spatial-temporal control of endocytosis and exocytosis. His lab, known as 'CINEMA', employs advanced techniques like Total Internal Reflections Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) and multicolor spinning-disk confocal imaging. This research is crucial for understanding dynamic processes in membrane traffic and cell polarity, which are essential for elucidating disease mechanisms such as metastasis. Dr. Toomre collaborates with various groups and is involved in developing computational models to analyze cellular processes in response to internal and external cues. He has received prestigious awards, including the NIH Director New Innovator Award and is recognized as a Kavli Fellow. His scientific contributions are notable in the fields of Nanotechnology, Biophysics, and Optics and Photonics.

Research Interests