معرفی
Laura Kelley is a Research Scientist at the Sherwood Lab @ Duke University, where she investigates cell-matrix interactions in development and disease. She earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology from Chapman University, followed by an MS in Kinesiology from Cal State University, East Bay. She completed her PhD at West Virginia University under Dr. Scott Weed, studying kinases in cancer cell invasion. Her postdoctoral work with Dr. Elena Pugacheva at WVU focused on cancer cell plasticity and 2-D/3-D migration. Currently, she examines proteolysis and type IV collagen cross-linking in anchor cell (AC) invasion, identifying shared pathways between AC invasion and cancer. She is a Hargitt Postdoctoral Fellow.
Her research integrates live-cell imaging, transcriptomics, and biophysical approaches to dissect invasion mechanisms. Key topics include specialized mitochondrial roles in invasion, ribosome biogenesis in anchor cell behavior, and ATP-driven membrane invasion processes. She also explores MMP-independent pathways for basement membrane breach and the role of actin dynamics in force generation during invasion.
Notable contributions include discovering dynamic basement membrane component movements and defining α-integrin roles in collagen recruitment. Her work has been published in high-impact journals, with a focus on cancer metastasis and developmental biology. Beyond research, Laura enjoys cycling, wine, and desserts.
Awards: Hargitt Postdoctoral Fellow.
