Decoding molecular signals. Discovering new biology. Designing new therapeutics.
Cells constantly sense changes in hormones, lipids, metabolites, and other small molecules. We want to understand how these molecular signals are recognized and translated into biology.
The Ortlund Lab studies how small molecules, metabolites, and lipids control protein function and cellular signaling. We combine structural biology, biochemistry, metabolomics, and computational approaches to uncover the mechanisms of molecular recognition and understand how they shape physiology and disease. We use these discoveries to identify new therapeutic opportunities in metabolic and inflammatory disease.
Our research spans four interconnected areas: molecular sensing and nuclear receptors, structural and mechanistic biology, therapeutic discovery, and AI-enabled molecular discovery.
Lab News
Dr. Ortlund Named AAAS Fellow
Eric Ortlund, Professor and Vice Chair of Biochemistry, has been named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. Dr. Ortlund is one of fourteen members of the Emory faculty named by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as Class of 2025 Fellows.
AAAS selects Fellows for their outstanding efforts in the advancement of science based on research, teaching, administration and technology, as well as communicating and interpreting science to the public. Becoming an AAAS Fellow is considered a lifetime honor. In addition to advancing research, Fellows play a crucial role in shaping public policy and influencing national and global perspectives on critical issues.
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