Dr. Lawrence Shapiro

Biography

Lawrence S. Shapiro is a Professor at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, specializing in the fields of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics as well as Ophthalmic Science. His research focuses on cell adhesion biology, particularly in establishing synaptic connections involving neurons, with the retina as a primary model system. His laboratory conducts molecular-level studies via X-ray crystallography to understand the structure and function of individual proteins, along with cellular and histologic studies to comprehend their roles in vivo. Shapiro's primary projects include examining the structure and function of a family of neural cell adhesion proteins known as protocadherins, which are expressed with remarkable specificity in neurons. He investigates the localization of protocadherins at synapses and the potential role of differential adhesion in neural circuit wiring. Additionally, his research encompasses tubby proteins and their signaling roles, especially in the context of obesity and retinopathy in mutant mouse models. His work contributes to understanding the intricacies of neural interconnections and the molecular bases of adhesion mechanisms in the nervous system.

Research Interests