Research Group of Aidan Brown
Aidan Brown
Associate Professor
aidan.brown@torontomu.ca
Office: KHS 331C
Our group's research aims to understand the physical limits and mechanisms for processes inside living cells, using theoretical and computational approaches. We focus on understanding how energy and geometric confinement drive intracellular signaling and the generation of spatial organization.
Recent projects include investigating the principles of nonequilibrium control of mRNA targeting to mitochondria, probing how protein spread within mitochondrial networks is affected by delivery modes and network dynamics, investigating how proteins localize to specific regions of the endoplasmic reticulum network, and examining the effect of enhance binding and multimerization on EGF receptor signaling.
Although all of our work is theoretical and computational, we collaborate with experimental cell biologists at TMU, elsewhere in Toronto, across Canada, and beyond.
If you are interested in joining the group, please contact us!
Recent Publications from Group
Google Scholar for Aidan Brown (external link)
- Geometry controls diffusive target encounters and escape in tubular structures. Junyeong L. Kim, Sean D. Lawley, and Aidan I. Brown. Physical Review E. 112: 024402 (2025). Journal link. (external link)
- Mitochondrial network branching enables rapid protein spread with slower mitochondrial dynamics. Prabha Chuphal, Jordan D. Lanctot, Sean P. Cornelius, and Aidan I. Brown. PRX Life. 2: 043005 (2024). Journal link. (external link)
- Mitochondrial protein heterogeneity stems from the stochastic nature of co-translational protein targeting in cell senescence. Abdul H. Khan, Xuefang Gu, Rutvik J. Patel, Prabha Chuphal, Matheus P. Viana, Aidan I. Brown, Brian M. Zid, Tatsuhisa Tsuboi. Nature Communications. 15: 8275 (2024). Journal link. (external link)
- Endoplasmic reticulum morphology regulation by RTN4 modulates neuronal regeneration by curbing luminal transport. Tasuku Konno, Pierre Parutto, Cécile C Crapart, Valentina Davì, David MD Bailey, Mosab Ali Awadelkareem, Colin Hockings, Aidan I Brown, Katherine M Xiang, Anamika Agrawal, Joseph E Chambers, Molly J Vander Werp, Katherine M Koning, Louis Mounir Elfari, Sam Steen, Emmanouil Metzakopian, Laura M Westrate, Elena F Koslover, Edward Avezov. Cell Reports. 43: 114357 (2024). Journal link. (external link)
- Tube geometry controls protein cluster conformation and stability on the endoplasmic reticulum surface. Liam T. Kischuck and Aidan I. Brown. Soft Matter. 19: 6771 - 6783 (2023). Journal link. (external link)
- Quantitative modeling of EGF receptor ligand discrimination via internalization proofreading. Jaleesa A. Leblanc, Michael G. Sugiyama, Costin N Antonescu, and Aidan I. Brown. Physical Biology. 20: 056008 (2023). Journal link. (external link)
- Confinement of unliganded EGFR by tetraspanin nanodomains gates EGFR ligand binding and signaling. Michael G. Sugiyama, Aidan I. Brown, Jesus Vega-Lugo, Andrew M. Scott, Khuloud Jaqaman, Gregory D. Fairn, and Costin N Antonescu. Nature Communications. 14: 2681 (2023). Journal link. (external link)
- Mitochondrial mRNA localization is governed by translation kinetics and spatial transport. Ximena G. Arceo, Elena F. Koslover, Brian M. Zid, and Aidan I. Brown. PLOS Computational Biology. 18: e1010413 (2022). Journal link. (external link)
Graduate students in Group
Junyeong Kim
PhD student
Nicholas Duong
PhD student
Sai Mogudala
MSc student