Studies in the Blobel lab are focused on a family of membrane-anchored metalloproteases named ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) with an emphasis on their role in tissue degeneration and regeneration, rheumatoid arthritis and angiogenesis. Their current focus is on understanding how ADAMs regulate the activity of ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), on elucidating the mechanism underlying the recently discovered roles of ADAMs in angiogenesis, and on their involvement in rheumatoid arthritis and healing of bone fractures and skin wounds. A main goal is to elucidate the role of these proteins in cell-cell interactions and signaling in order to develop new approaches to fighting autoimmune disease and tissue degeneration and to stimulating tissue growth and regeneration.
Part of The Investigator's Annexe program.