Mark Peifer

Mark Peifer is the Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds affiliations with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Curriculum in Neurobiology. His research focuses on cell adhesion, cytoskeletal regulation, and Wnt signaling in development and cancer. Using Drosophila as a model system, his lab explores how these processes regulate epithelial tissue architecture and cancer progression. Key projects include studying APC's role in Wnt signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics, and investigating Abl kinase's coordination of adhesion and actin dynamics. The lab employs advanced microscopy, genetic tools, and biochemistry to dissect these mechanisms. Peifer is also committed to promoting diversity in STEM and active learning in education through initiatives like the PALM Network.