R. Claudio AguilarView profile
Professor
Dr. R. Claudio Aguilar is a Professor and Assistant Head in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, where he leads the Aguilar Lab. His research focuses on understanding protein trafficking, membrane transport, and cell polarity establishment, with applications to cancer and developmental diseases. Key areas include the study of Lowe Syndrome and the development of anti-cancer therapies, such as EGF-targeted toxin agents and fibronectin-based targeting strategies. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Buenos Aires (1996). Research interests include vesicle trafficking, endocytic signaling, and the role of epsin proteins in cancer cell migration and invasion. His lab has pioneered therapeutic approaches against bladder cancer and Lowe Syndrome, leveraging insights from yeast and mammalian cell models. Notable achievements include the design of receptor micro-clustering strategies (patented) and the development of induced pluripotent stem cell models for disease study. Dr. Aguilar has received numerous awards, including the Purdue University Faculty Scholar (2018), Sigma Xi Midcareer Research Award (2017), and multiple travel and mentoring awards. His work spans over 100 publications, with a focus on cellular dynamics, membrane biology, and translational research. He teaches courses in eukaryotic cell biology and supervises undergraduate and graduate research projects. Lab activities include hosting seminars like the Cell Dynamics Series and organizing outreach events such as Science in the Movies nights. Collaborations extend to institutions globally, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to cell biology challenges.










