The research interest in the lab pertains to molecular mechanisms that establish and maintain the membrane bounded subcellular compartments of the secretory and endocytic pathways. This research area continues to be highly significant in terms of basic cell biology. It is also critical to understanding and treating human diseases such as cystic fibrosis, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and cancer.

Ongoing projects include: understanding the mode and mechanism of biogenesis of the Golgi apparatus, understanding the regulatory reactions that impinge on vesicle trafficking machinery to cause disassembly and reassembly of the Golgi apparatus during cell division, and understanding the interactions that occur within the Golgi and endocytic vesicle lumen to govern cell surface-to-Golgi trafficking of proteins and invasive toxins.

These projects are carried out in mammalian tissue culture cells using permeabilized cell assays, biochemical reconstitutions, cell imaging techniques and molecular genetic experiments.