RESEARCH

Perturbations in MAPK signaling are features of many different diseases including diabetes, fatty liver disease, obesity, cancers, and immune disorders. The MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) function as a complex negative regulatory network to strictly control the kinetics of MAPK activation. The goal of the Lawan laboratory research program is to elucidate the molecular and physiological basis for the actions of MAPK phosphatases (MKPs) in cell and whole-body metabolic processes. Our research program currently focuses on the following areas: (1) Regulation of lipid metabolism by MKPs in physiology and disease, (2) Function of MKPs on senescence and metabolic dysfunction, (3) Role of MKPs in hematopoietic system and effects on systemic metabolism, (4) Identification of targets and design therapies for treating metabolic diseases. We use a combination of approaches including mouse models with targeted mutations, human studies and functional genomics to examine the significance of MKPs signaling.

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