Richard Hite

Richard Hite is an Associate Professor at the Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Principal Investigator of the Hite Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He holds affiliations with the Structural Biology Program, Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, and Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

• BS from Emory University
• PhD from Harvard University

Hite's research focuses on determining the mechanisms of intracellular ion and metabolite transport, with particular emphasis on lysosomal channels, and studying protein-nucleic acid interactions critical for genomic integrity. His laboratory employs advanced structural and biophysical tools including cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, and electrophysiology to characterize these fundamental biological processes. The lab's work spans membrane transport mechanisms, lipid metabolism pathways, and DNA replication machinery.

Analysis of recent publications reveals a strong trend toward structural characterization of membrane transport proteins, particularly focusing on lysosomal channels like TMEM175 and FLVCR1. His research group has made significant contributions to understanding how these channels function at the molecular level, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases and lipid metabolism disorders. The work combines structural biology with functional assays to elucidate transport mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets.

• Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research
• Josie Robertson Investigator (2017-2022)
• Searle Scholar
• Tri-Institutional Breakout Award for Junior Investigators

Dr. Hite mentors multiple graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in his laboratory, with research supported by National Institutes of Health funding including the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant. His lab maintains strong collaborative relationships with other researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine. The laboratory actively participates in the Tri-Institutional PhD Program, contributing to graduate education in structural biology and chemical biology.

The Hite Laboratory operates within the Structural Biology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for cryo-electron microscopy and structural analysis. The lab maintains collaborations with multiple research groups focused on membrane transport, lipid metabolism, and DNA replication mechanisms.