William M. Brieher

William M. Brieher is a Professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a PhD from the University of California, San Francisco and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on cytoskeleton dynamics, cell adhesion, and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial morphogenesis. Key projects include understanding actin filament assembly at cell-cell junctions and the role of CD2AP in kidney disease. He received the LAS Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and leads a lab employing biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological techniques. Recent work explores actin disassembly pathways and the structural basis of epithelial integrity.

Education:

• PhD in Cell Biology, University of California, San Francisco
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School

Research Interests:

• Cytoskeletal organization and dynamics
• Actin filament assembly/disassembly mechanisms
• Signal transduction in cell adhesion
• Pathophysiological implications in kidney disease

Publications Highlight: His lab’s work on 'Catastrophic actin filament bursting' uncovered novel actin disassembly pathways involving cofilin and coronin, while recent studies on CD2AP revealed its role in epithelial cell height regulation. These findings bridge basic biology with clinical relevance in kidney disorders.

Awards:

• 2020 LAS Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

Lab Focus: The Brieher lab investigates fundamental aspects of cytoskeletal regulation with applications to disease, using epithelial tissues as primary models. Current projects include studying actin protrusion dynamics at cell junctions and the molecular basis of inherited kidney diseases linked to cytoskeletal dysfunction.