About

School of Science and Engineering

Division of Biological and Biomedical Systems

Randall Lab Interests

Our main interest is finding new treatments for antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections, which are now among the leading causes of death worldwide. We are especially interested in using synthetic microbiology and biochemistry techniques to help find novel peptide antibiotics targeting essential processes on the bacterial cell surface and within the bacterial cell envelope. Membrane disruptive peptides (MDPs) are also of special interest in our lab. They target and kill cells via membrane lysis and are found naturally in toxins, venoms, and as part of host immune systems. We would like to understand how we can modify them to target specific disease causing cells - like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancers - without harming healthy human cells. For more information please click the "Research Projects" tab above.