Melody Campbell

Melody Campbell, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and an Affiliate Professor in the Herbold Computational Biology Program. She also serves as Scientific Director of the Electron Microscopy Core within Fred Hutch's Shared Resources and is a member of the Translational Data Science Integrated Research Center.

• Education:
  • PhD in Biophysics, The Scripps Research Institute (2016)
  • BS in Biochemistry, University of Michigan (2010)

Dr. Campbell's research focuses on integrin signaling and cryo-EM method development. Her lab investigates how integrins—proteins critical for cell communication—adopt conformational changes linked to diseases like autoimmune disorders, cancer, and infectious diseases. Using cryo-EM and computational tools, her team characterizes integrin dynamics and develops targeted therapeutics for conditions such as fibroinflammatory processes and tumor immune evasion.

Her recent publications highlight advances in cryo-EM resolution (e.g., Nature Communications 2023, Cell 2024), structural insights into integrin-ligand interactions, and AI-driven image processing (IUCrJ 2020). Collaborations with institutions like the University of Washington, Mayo Clinic, and University of California systems underscore her interdisciplinary approach.

Lab Leadership includes training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The lab's Electron Microscopy Core houses cutting-edge equipment like the Glacios 200kV microscope and Talos 120C, supporting high-resolution structural studies. Current projects include designing α5β1 modulators for regenerative medicine and exploring SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms (Cell Reports, 2025).

Key Contributions include defining integrin activation dynamics (Cell 2020), developing graphene oxide grid methods (J Struct Biol 2020), and pioneering computational motion correction for cryo-EM (Structure 2012).