Diane Barber

Dr. Diane Barber is a Professor in the Department of Cell and Tissue Biology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Her research focuses on epithelial plasticity and the role of intracellular pH dynamics in regulating cancer and stem cell behaviors. Key areas include protonation as a post-translational modification, actin filament regulation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Her work bridges protein electrostatics with cell biology, emphasizing how pH imbalances drive cancer progression and stem cell differentiation. Recent studies highlight pH's role in transcription factor activity, lysosomal pH in cancer cells, and structural biology of glycolytic enzymes like phosphofructokinase-1.

Dr. Barber’s lab employs advanced biosensors and structural approaches to uncover mechanisms linking metabolic signals to cell fate decisions. Collaborations span immunology, cancer biology, and developmental biology, with a focus on translational applications in therapeutic targeting.