Brian Ceresa Lab
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About
The Ceresa Lab studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling with the goal of enhancing corneal re-epithelialization. Our lab combines biochemical, cell biological and whole animal studies to understand fundamental molecular mechanisms that regulate EGFR activity. Ultimately, we want to develop compounds that promote corneal epithelial homeostasis to minimize patient distress, the likelihood of ocular infections and the potential for blindness.
Key Research Areas
- Receptor trafficking
- Receptor signaling
- Cornea biology
- Epithelial biology
- E3 ubiquitin ligases
Current Projects
- Chemical Optimization of CBL antagonists to enhance Corneal re-epithelialization
- EGFR signaling in the diabetic cornea epithelium
Team
- Brian Ceresa - Director
- Lisandra Plana – Research Assistant III
- Keagan Fosser - Graduate Student
- Leighton Avera – Graduate Student
- Andrew Le – Research Assistant
Recent Publications
1: Tarvestad-Laise K, Monsen RC, Crotchett BLM, Rush JS, Ganipisetti S, Valmon
R, DeLeeuw L, Burlison J, Trent JO, Ceresa BP. A c-Cbl/Cbl-b antagonist inhibits
EGFR ubiquitylation and sustains EGFR phosphorylation to enhance corneal re-
epithelialization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Feb 17;123(7):e2518857123.
PMCID:PMC12912980.
2: Tarvestad-Laise KE, Manion G, Plana Ramos LG, Doll M, Verjan Garcia N, Kittle
WM, Beverly L, Matoba N, Band H, Ceresa BP. Knockout of c-Cbl and Cbl-b enhances
corneal re-epithelialization in male, but not female, mice. Exp Eye Res. 2026
Feb;263:110789. PMCID: PMC12756846.
3: Tarvestad-Laise K, Ceresa BP. Knockout of c-Cbl/Cbl-b slows c-Met trafficking
resulting in enhanced signaling in corneal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2023
Oct;299(10):105233. PMCID: PMC10622846.
4: Kim C, Chen J, Ceresa BP. Chronic arsenic increases cell migration in BEAS-2B
cells by increasing cell speed, cell persistence, and cell protrusion length.
Exp Cell Res. 2021 Nov 1;408(1):112852. PMCID: PMC8530977.
5: Ceresa BP. Prime time for the recycling endosome. EMBO J. 2021 Jul
15;40(14):e108758. PMCID: PMC8447598.