Wendy R Gordon

Wendy R Gordon serves as an Associate Professor in the Structural Biology and Biophysics department at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Her research program bridges structural biology, biophysics, and translational medicine with significant funding from NIH sources including the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Dr. Gordon leads multiple active research projects focused on mechanobiology, protein engineering, and cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Gordon's research interests center on understanding molecular mechanisms of cell surface receptors, particularly the Notch signaling pathway, and developing innovative tools for studying cellular mechanics. Her work spans structural biology approaches to characterize protein-DNA interactions, mechanotransduction mechanisms, and receptor regulation. She has developed novel technologies including HUH-Tags for protein-DNA labeling and tension sensors for measuring cellular forces. Her research has significant implications for cancer immunotherapy, particularly in engineering protein modulators of Notch activation for CAR T-cell therapy.

Analysis of Dr. Gordon's recent publications reveals a strong focus on three interconnected research themes: 1) molecular mechanisms of Notch signaling and receptor regulation, 2) development of innovative tools for protein-DNA conjugation and cellular mechanotype measurement, and 3) applications of these technologies to cancer biology and immunotherapy. Her work demonstrates increasing integration of structural biology with functional cellular assays and therapeutic applications, particularly in tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy contexts.

Dr. Gordon currently leads or collaborates on seven major research projects totaling millions in NIH funding. Her active grants include: LUMICKS C-trap for Mechanistic Studies of Biological Systems (as PI), Engineering Protein Modulators of Notch Activation for CAR T-cell immunotherapy (as CoI), Viral vector technology for cell type specific gene delivery (as CoI), Decoding mechanotransduction mechanisms of cell-surface receptors (as PI), and the Center for Multiparametric Imaging of Tumor Immune Microenvironments (as CoI). These projects reflect her expertise spanning structural biology, mechanobiology, and translational applications.

Dr. Gordon's laboratory operates at the intersection of structural biology and cellular mechanobiology, with strong collaborations across the University of Minnesota campus including with cancer researchers, bioengineers, and clinicians. Her team develops and applies cutting-edge technologies including single-molecule techniques, protein engineering approaches, and high-throughput cellular mechanotype measurement systems to address fundamental questions in receptor biology with therapeutic implications.