Welcome to the McClean Lab
The McClean Lab studies in vivo signal processing in biological networks.
We study the design principles underlying the signal processing capabilities of biological networks. Cellular signaling networks transmit information about environmental stimuli to the interior of the cell, where successive cellular responses take place. How these networks process their input dictates cellular behavior and fitness. We are interested in how signaling pathways and transcriptional networks are designed to appropriately filter input and set thresholds so that cells respond optimally to changes in their environment. We are also interested in understanding how these networks are adapted and fine-tuned throughout development (short timescale) or evolution (long timescale). The lab takes an experimental approach combining microfluidics with microscopy to monitor the responses of signaling pathways to complex stimuli.