Peter Michaely

Peter Michaely is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His academic journey includes a BS in Biochemistry and Genetics from the University of Illinois (1984–1989), followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from Duke University (1989–1995). He conducted postdoctoral research at Duke and UT Southwestern, focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism and membrane protein interactions.

Research interests center on lipoprotein receptor function, particularly the LDL receptor's role in cholesterol uptake, as well as the structural and functional roles of ankyrin and spectrin proteins in membrane-cytoskeletal organization. He investigates mechanisms underlying genomic instability and their implications in diseases like Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and cancer. His work integrates biochemistry, cell biology, and structural biology approaches.

Michaely’s lab has contributed to understanding LDL receptor-mediated endocytosis, calcium-dependent lipoprotein release, and the role of ankyrin repeats in protein interactions. His findings have implications for cholesterol metabolism disorders, cancer, and inherited hypercholesterolemia. He has published extensively in journals such as Journal of Clinical Investigation, Nature, and Journal of Biological Chemistry.

His career includes roles as an Instructor (2002–2005) and Assistant Professor (2005–present) at UT Southwestern. He is affiliated with the Michaely Lab, where he mentors students and collaborates on projects exploring lipid signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics, and disease mechanisms.