Lila M. Gierasch

Lila M. Gierasch is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMass Amherst. Her research examines protein folding mechanisms in cellular environments, emphasizing chaperone systems (particularly Hsp70) and implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

Gierasch's lab combines biophysical techniques (NMR, fluorescence) with cell biology to study how chaperones regulate folding, prevent aggregation, and respond to stress. She has led investigations into allosteric communication in Hsp70 domains and ER quality control pathways.

Awards include the ASBMB Mildred Cohn Award and NIH Pioneer Award. As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016-present), she oversees major publications in molecular life sciences.