Welcome to the Charest Lab!
In the laboratory of Dr. Pascale Charest at the University of Arizona, we study how cells migrate in response to external chemical cues (chemoattractants), a process (chemotaxis) that is important to normal physiology and that is also implicated in the onset and progression of diseases such as immune disorders and cancer metastasis. Our goal is to identify key, conserved intracellular signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that control cell migration to guide the development of therapeutic strategies to treat immune and inflammatory diseases as well as prevent the spread of cancer. For this, we work with the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum to accelerate discovery and with normal and transformed human cells to determine applicability to human health, and we use collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches that include cellular, molecular, biochemical, biophysical, multi-omics, and computational methods.
The research work performed in the Charest lab is largely driven by terrific students, both graduate and undergraduate students, that are part of diverse U. Arizona academic programs, including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Cancer Biology.
The research work performed in the Charest lab is largely driven by terrific students, both graduate and undergraduate students, that are part of diverse U. Arizona academic programs, including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Cancer Biology.
Charest Lab News
August 2025
Elizabeth (Liz) Harper successfully defended her MS thesis and graduates from the Accelerated Master's Program in Biochemistry. Congratulation Liz!
Caleb Konecek presented his summer work at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) end of summer events. Good work Caleb!
Elizabeth (Liz) Harper successfully defended her MS thesis and graduates from the Accelerated Master's Program in Biochemistry. Congratulation Liz!
Caleb Konecek presented his summer work at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) end of summer events. Good work Caleb!
Celebrating Liz's successful defense. Left to right: Dr. Charest, Helena Woroniecka, Liz Harper, Isaiah Toth, Meena Khan, Maniza Muni.
July 2025 This summer, we hosted KEYS high school intern Finn McGill from Tanque Verde HS. Finn worked with graduate student Isaiah Toth and is seen here presenting his poster at the KEYS showcase. It was really nice having you around this summer Finn, and we look forward to seeing you at UA next year! May 2025 Graduation time! Congratulations to our beloved graduates: Douglas Swango, B.Sc. Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, with Honors. Douglas is heading to graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. Olivia Hajdys, B.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, with Honors, as well as Army Cadet graduate. Olivia is starting medical school at the Utah Army National Guard Medical Corps to follow her dream of becoming a military trauma surgeon. Katie Jennings, Tanque Verde High School graduate. Katie is heading to the University of Virginia to pursue a degree in Biology. We are extremely proud of you and cannot wait to see what you will all accomplish in the future! And we will miss you!!! To celebrate their graduation as well as a great year in the Charest Lab, we had a climbing party at The Bloc followed by a nice pizza dinner, it was so much fun! |
Caleb at the UROC poster presentations, with lab mentor Isaiah Toth.
At the KEYS showcase. Finn, Dr. Charest (with beautiful flowers Finn gave her), and Finn's lab mentor Isaiah.
Olivia, Katie, and Douglas
Douglas, Dr. Charest, and Olivia at the CBC commencement ceremony.
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April 2025
Congratulations to Isaiah Toth, awarded a Galileo Circle award, and Caleb Konecek, awarded an Excellence Award in Biochemistry! Well deserved! Undergraduate students from the Charest lab represented the group proudly at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry poster fair: |
Left to right: Caleb Konecek, Olivia Hajdys, Douglas Swango
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March 2025
We are welcoming two new graduate students to the Charest lab: Maniza Muni (Dep. Chemistry & Biochemistry; Biological Chemistry Program, Biochemistry track) and Meena Khan (Dep. Molecular and Cellular Biology; Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology program). Both Maniza and Meena will conduct research to understand the role and regulation of chemoattractant receptor dynamics in chemotaxis.
We are welcoming two new graduate students to the Charest lab: Maniza Muni (Dep. Chemistry & Biochemistry; Biological Chemistry Program, Biochemistry track) and Meena Khan (Dep. Molecular and Cellular Biology; Biochemistry, Molecular & Cellular Biology program). Both Maniza and Meena will conduct research to understand the role and regulation of chemoattractant receptor dynamics in chemotaxis.
Charest lab May 2025. Left to right, back row: Meena Khan, Douglas Swango, Isaiah Toth, Katie Jennings, Megan Dowd, Olivia Hajdys, Maniza Muni. Front row: Helena Woroniecka, Dr. Charest, Liz Harper. Absent: Caleb Konecek and Kate Santiago.
