Shae Padrick

Shae Padrick, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Drexel University College of Medicine. Her research focuses on mechanisms of signal integration in multiprotein complexes, particularly those controlling the actin cytoskeleton in normal and pathological contexts. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University (2003) and a BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology from UC Berkeley (1998). Her work combines structural biology, biochemistry, and imaging to study actin dynamics in cell motility and disease.

• Education:
  • PhD in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (Yale University, 2003)
  • BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology (UC Berkeley, 1998)
• Awards:
  • Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH Fellowship (2003-2006)
  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (1999-2002)
  • UC Berkeley Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholar (1994-1998)

Research interests include kinetic mechanisms of signal integration, X-ray crystallography, and cytoskeleton dynamics. Her lab investigates actin nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex and membrane-associated proteins like GAP43, linking molecular mechanisms to cellular behaviors in cancer and infection. Recent publications highlight advances in actin polymerization regulation, septin scaffolds, and WASp activators for cancer therapy.

Labs/Teams: The Padrick Lab at Drexel University College of Medicine focuses on structural and mechanistic studies of cytoskeletal systems. Collaborations include protein engineering, imaging, and drug development for therapeutic applications.