Tom A. Rapoport

Tom A. Rapoport is the Don W. Fawcett Professor of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), where he has been a faculty member since 1995. He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Humboldt University (East Berlin) and a Habilitation in enzymology. His research focuses on mechanisms of protein transport across membranes, ER-associated degradation (ERAD), and membrane morphology regulation. Rapoport is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator and leads the Rapoport Lab, which employs biochemical and structural techniques like X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Humboldt University, East Berlin (1980s)
• Habilitation in Enzymology, Humboldt University (post-Ph.D.)

Research Interests:

Rapoport's work centers on understanding how proteins are transported across membranes, particularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and how misfolded proteins are degraded via ERAD. His lab also investigates ER tubule formation and peroxisomal protein import. Recent projects include studies on lung surfactant proteins and their role in lamellar body formation.

Awards:

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1997–present)

Grants & Funding:

• R01HL150520 (NIH): Function and application of lung surfactant proteins (2020–2025)
• R01GM052586 (NIH): Protein Transport Across Membranes (1995–2027)

Labs/Teams:

The Rapoport Lab collaborates extensively, using interdisciplinary approaches to solve structural and mechanistic questions in membrane biology. Key techniques include cell-free reconstitution assays and cryo-EM.