• With Rami Osman and Mihaly Mezei, I applied statistical mechanics to the study of protein folding, and developed new approaches to modeling hydration of peptides (MC-PHS: a Monte Carlo implementation of the primary hydration shell for protein folding and design, html) and protein stability (Calculation of the free energy and cooperativity of protein folding, html), establishing the contribution of the unfolded state to protein folding (Unfolded state of polyalanine is a segmented polyproline II helix, html).
  • With Kathy Borden, I applied protein engineering to the study of cellular scaffolds, and described a unique mechanism of non fibrillar self-assembly (Self-assembly properties of a model RING domain, html, cover) that formalized a general theory of scaffold mechanics (Physical mechanisms and biological significance of supramolecular protein self-assembly, html), and functions widely in eukaryotic cells (Control of biochemical reactions through supramolecular RING domain self-assembly, html, comment).
  • By applying quantum mechanics, spectroscopy and cell biology techniques, we defined a specific mechanism of action of ribavirin and discovered a new pharmacologic approach to suppress malignant neoplasia (Ribavirin suppresses eIF4E-mediated oncogenic transformation by physical mimicry of the 7-methyl guanosine mRNA cap, html), that is currently being tested in clinical trials (A study of ribavirin to treat M4 and M5 acute myelocytic leukemia, html).
  • With Hanno Steen and Rich Bachur, I applied a newly developed mass spectrometer to the study of the acute phase response, and discovered new diagnostic markers of acute appendicitis that promise to improve radically the treatment of this common surgical emergency (Discovery and validation of urine markers of acute appendicitis using high accuracy mass spectrometry, html). In the process, we developed a method of deep proteomic profiling capable of detecting proteins from virtually all major tissues, with applications to a wide variety of human conditions (Urine proteomics for profiling of human disease using high accuracy mass spectrometry, html).
  • Currently, I am thinking about causal mechanics of leukemogenesis, screening of newborns for retinoblastoma, diagnostic markers of Kawasaki disease, and methods of ab initio drug design.