Sergio Catz

Sergio Catz, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Scripps Research. His research focuses on intracellular vesicular transport mechanisms and their roles in immunity, inflammation, and disease. He leads a laboratory utilizing super-resolution microscopy and systems biology approaches to study Rab GTPases and vesicular trafficking in innate immune cells.

Education:

• PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires (1997)
• BSc in Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires (1991)

Research Interests:

His work investigates molecular mechanisms of autophagy, exocytosis, and phagocytosis, with applications to coronary artery disease, lysosomal storage disorders, and autoinflammatory syndromes. The lab develops small-molecule inhibitors/activators of vesicular trafficking and employs high-throughput screening assays.

Awards & Leadership:

• Chair-elect, Neutrophil Biennial International Symposium (2026)
• NIH Study Section Member (CSF1, MBPP)
• Editorial Board, Journal of Leukocyte Biology
• Recipient: Prize Boeringher Ingelheim (1995)

Lab & Collaborations:

The lab is internationally recognized for studying vesicular trafficking in innate immunity. Current projects include pre-clinical trials for lysosomal disorders and viral encephalitis using novel compounds.