Khaled Machaca

Khaled Machaca is a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Research, Innovations, and Commercialization. His academic work focuses on understanding intracellular signaling pathways under physiological conditions and how they are disrupted under pathological states.

Dr. Machaca's research program centers on three main areas: Ca²⁺ signaling & ER-plasma membrane contact sites, nongenomic progesterone signaling, and cellular models for personalized medicine. His laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining animal models (mouse and Xenopus), advanced microscopy, cell physiology, genetic, and biochemical techniques to investigate these complex biological processes.

His work on Ca²⁺ signaling examines the regulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) during cellular differentiation and in disease states, with particular interest in Ca²⁺ tunneling as an emerging signaling pathway in secretory tissues. His research on nongenomic progesterone signaling uses Xenopus oocyte maturation as a model system to elucidate early signaling steps that do not involve transcription. In personalized medicine, he collaborates with clinicians at SIDRA to combine multiomic phenotyping with patient-specific cellular models for immunodeficiencies.

Dr. Machaca's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on calcium signaling mechanisms across multiple biological contexts, from basic cellular processes to clinical applications. His work bridges fundamental cell biology with translational research, particularly in immunology, reproductive biology, and metabolic disorders.

As head of the Machaca Lab at WCM-Q, he leads a research team investigating how intracellular signaling pathways function under normal conditions and become disrupted in disease states. His laboratory serves as a hub for collaborative research between basic scientists and clinicians, particularly through partnerships with SIDRA Medical.