PATRU: David Gordon Lab

Assistant Professor
Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
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Dr. David Ezra Gordon earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University, followed by an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge. With a diverse research background encompassing cell and molecular biology, experimental genetics, virology, systems biology, mass spectrometry, and immunology, Dr. Gordon is recognized for his innovative and impactful contributions to biomedical science. As a graduate student at Cambridge, he utilized combinatorial experimental genetics to map redundant vesicle trafficking pathways in higher eukaryotes. During his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Gordon pioneered high-throughput genetic interaction mapping to study HIV host-dependencies, and spearheaded the first peer-reviewed protein interaction maps for the highly pathogenic coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS.

At Emory University, the Gordon Laboratory builds upon these foundational studies to systematically dissect the biochemical mechanisms underlying immune regulation, particularly in the contexts of pathogen infection and the tumor microenvironment. Leveraging state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, the lab maps complex biochemical networks and employs high-throughput experimental genetics to pinpoint key nodes driving immune function and dysfunction. Collaboration is central to our approach—we partner widely to access the most physiologically relevant model systems for our research on immune responses, infectious diseases, and cancer. Our team specializes in the biochemical analysis and genetic modification of primary systems at scale, working closely with both academic and industry partners to advance the frontiers of immunology and therapeutic discovery.

Post Doctoral Fellow
Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit (PATRU)
Emory University | Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Christian earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Interdisciplinary Sciences from ETH Zurich (Switzerland). While at ETH, he conducted research training in the research groups led by Prof. Ruedi Aebersold, Prof. Beat Christen, and Prof. Paula Picotti, where he developed a strong interest in systems biology and proteomics. After graduation, he completed an internship at Hoffman-La Roche (Switzerland) before pursuing his doctoral studies with Prof. Roman Zubarev at the Karolinska Institute (Sweden). In Prof. Zubarev’s lab, Christian gained expertise in established chemical proteomics methods and developed novel analytical techniques, such as SIESTA, and PISA, along with various versions like PISA-Express, Ion-PISA, and ResT-PISA. These methodologies have become indispensable tools, used not only within the Zubarev lab but also offered as services to core facility clients. Christian’s commitment to advancing research extended beyond method development, as he created accessible interactive resources, empowering the broader scientific community to navigate multidimensional proteomics data. In 2023, Christian was awarded a prestigious international Postdoctoral fellowship from the Swedish Research Council to pursue his research at Emory University in Dr. David E. Gordon’s group. Christian’s current research focuses on leveraging multidimensional proteomics and systems biology to deepen our understanding of immune regulation in chronic diseases and cancer.

PhD Student
Pathology Advanced Translational Research Unit (PATRU)
Emory University | Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Carolyn received her B.S. in Biochemistry from Juniata College and M.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Brandeis University. She is currently a PhD student in the Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology program at Emory University.

At Juniata, she had an undergraduate research project to investigate the predicted structure of di-manganese superoxide dismutase and manganese catalase in bacteria. During her time at Brandies, she worked in Dr. Dorothee Kern’s lab researching the regulation of the protein-tyrosine phosphatases SHP1 and SHP2 and how this regulation evolved with the use of ancestral sequence reconstruction and kinetic assays. Additionally, she had a summer internship at C4 Therapeutics where she worked on the development of a small-molecule assay of amyloid protein aggregation for future drug development.

She joined the Gordon Lab/PATRU in 2024.