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Michael T Forrester

Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine
Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
303 Research Drive, Sands 455,, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


I am a physician scientist studying the molecular biology of interstitial lung diseases. The three main topics of my research program are 1) the roles of protein lipidation in pro-fibrotic TGF-beta receptor signaling, 2) lung metabolism of xenobiotics (i.e., drugs) by cytochrome P450 enzymes and 3) development of novel technologies to study protein lipidation including proteomics and genetic screening tools. My long-term goals are to unravel the molecular drivers of pulmonary fibrosis thus facilitating strategies to prevent and treat fibrotic lung diseases.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine · 2025 - Present Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Medicine

Recent Publications


Topology-driven discovery of transmembrane protein S-palmitoylation.

Journal Article J Biol Chem · March 2025 Protein S-palmitoylation is a reversible lipophilic posttranslational modification regulating diverse signaling pathways. Within transmembrane proteins (TMPs), S-palmitoylation is implicated in conditions from inflammatory disorders to respiratory viral in ... Full text Link to item Cite

Analysis of Protein Cysteine Acylation Using a Modified Suspension Trap (Acyl-Trap).

Journal Article J Proteome Res · August 2, 2024 Proteins undergo reversible S-acylation via a thioester linkage in vivo. S-palmitoylation, modification by C16:0 fatty acid, is a common S-acylation that mediates critical protein-membrane and protein-protein interactions. The most widely used S-acylation ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Role of Protein S-Palmitoylation in TGFbeta Signaling and Fibrotic Lung Disease

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2010 M.D.
Duke University, School of Medicine · 2009 Ph.D.