Jerome Lacroix, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Website: https://jlacroix9.wixsite.com/thelacroixlaboratory
Join year: 2016
• 2006 PhD, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
• 2002 Master of Science, Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Biology, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
• 2001 Bachelor of Science with Major in Cell Biology and Physiology, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
• 1999 Undergraduate degree, Major in Life Sciences, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
• Assistant Professor, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA (since 03/2016)
• Visiting scientist, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (since 2016)
• Post-doctoral scholar, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA (2014-2016)
• Research professional associate, University of Chicago (2011-2013)
• Post-doctoral scholar, University of Chicago (2006-2011)
The Lacroix Laboratory is dedicated to elucidate the gating mechanisms of mechanosensitive ion channels that enable our cells to feel various forms of mechanical forces. We use protein engineering, patch-clamp electrophysiology, fluorescence spectroscopy and non-invasive acoustic stimulations to discover fundamental principles underlying molecular mechanotransduction produced upon mechanical or chemical stimuli. We also create biotechnology that will allow us to "see" mechanical forces acting on cells or to remotely stimulate neurons using focused ultrasound.
- Dynamics and heteromerization of PIEZO channel subunits (PI)- 09/01/2025-08/31/2027
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, R21 AT013465
$390,979 total cost
Funds are used to measure how PIEZO channel subunits interact and rearrange under distinct mechanical stimulations
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Cooperative modulation of PIEZO channels (contact PI)- 07/21/2025-04/30/2029
National Heart, Lungs, and blood Institute, R01 HL179692
$2,514,288 total cost
Funds are used to test the hypothesis that PIEZO channel influence each other through local deformations of the cell membrane
- Pharmacological modulation of PIEZO1 channels (contact PI)- 09/01/2023-05/31/2027
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, R01 GM130834 (renewal)
$1,476,258 total cost
Funds are used to investigate the structural mechanism of chemical activation of PIEZO1 channels and to develop novel chemical modulators using a structure-guided approach
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Heteromerization of PIEZO channel subunits (PI)- 07/01/2025-06/30/2027
WesternU intramural grant
$48,754 total cost
Funds are used to generate preliminary data for competitive NIH grant resubmission
- Heteromerization of PIEZO channel subunits (PI)-12/1/2025-08/31/2026
UC Irvine Skin Bio Travel Award
$3000
Funds are used to support travel from WesternU to UC Irvine collaborators
- 2025 SyncroPatch 384 Instrument Grant (co-PI)-04/2026-01/2027
Loan of a high-throughput automated patch-clamp instrument (Nanion Technologies) for drug discovery (housed with our UC Irvine collaborator)
- Modulation of PIEZO1 channels by Yoda2 (co-PI)- 01/01/2026-12/31/2026
NIH & Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center - ANTON2 Computation Award
150,000 MD simulations units
ANTON2 computing allocations are used for running all-atom simulations to elucidate how Yoda2 interacts with PIEZO1
- Faculty of F1000 (since 2013)
- The Biophysical Society (since 2007)
- GCBS Research Representative
- GCBS Faculty Handbook Committee
- GCBS Academic Technology Representative
- GCBS Research Representative
- GCBS Tenure-track Faculty Search Committee
- GCBS Assessement Committee
- MSMS Curriculum Committee
- MSBS Admission Committee
Recent Publications:
Li S, Wijerathne T, Bhatt A, Jiang W, Lacroix J, Han W, Luo YL. (2026) A two-step clockwork mechanism opens a proteo-lipidic pore in PIEZO2. Nat Chem Biol. doi: 10.1038/s41589-026-02147-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41703062.
Bertaccini GA, Casanellas I, Evans EL, Nourse JL, Dickinson GD, Liu G, Seal S, Ly AT, Holt JR, Wijerathne TD, Yan S, Hui EE, Lacroix JJ, Panicker MM, Upadhyayula S, Parker I, Pathak MM. (2025) Visualizing PIEZO1 localization and activity in hiPSC-derived single cells and organoids with HaloTag technology. Nat Commun. 16(1):5556. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59150-1. PMID: 40593468; PMCID: PMC12217361.
Lacroix JJ, Wijerathne TD. (2025) PIEZO channels as multimodal mechanotransducers. Biochem Soc Trans. 53(1):293–302. doi: 10.1042/BST20240419. PMID: 39936392; PMCID: PMC12010695.
Lin Y, Lacroix JJ, Sterling JD, Luo YL. (2025) Dissecting current rectification through asymmetric nanopores. Biophys J. 124(4):597-603. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.11.3318. Epub 2024 Nov 29. PMID: 39614613; PMCID: PMC11900152.
Wijerathne TD, Bhatt A, Jiang W, Luo YL, Lacroix JJ. (2025) Mammalian PIEZO channels rectify anionic currents. Biophys J. 124(24):4424-4431. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.11.010. Epub 2024 Nov 14. PMID: 39543876; PMCID: PMC12820994.
Wijerathne T, Lacroix J. (2024) Voltage-clamp fluorometry to record flow-activated PIEZO1 currents and fluorometric signals. STAR Protoc. 5(1):102789. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102789. Epub 2023 Dec 15. PMID: 38103195; PMCID: PMC10770629.
Jiang W, Wijerathne TD, Zhang H, Lin YC, Jo S, Im W, Lacroix JJ, Luo YL. (2023) Structural and thermodynamic framework for PIEZO1 modulation by small molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 120(50):e2310933120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2310933120. Epub 2023 Dec 7. PMID: 38060566; PMCID: PMC10723123.
Ozkan AD, Wijerathne TD, Gettas T, Lacroix JJ. (2023) Force-induced motions of the PIEZO1 blade probed with fluorimetry. Cell Rep. 42(8):112837. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112837. Epub 2023 Jul 19. PMID: 37471225; PMCID: PMC10530446.
Wijerathne TD, Ozkan AD, Lacroix JJ. (2023) Microscopic mechanism of PIEZO1 activation by pressure-induced membrane stretch. J Gen Physiol. 155(5):e202213260. doi: 10.1085/jgp.202213260. Epub 2023 Jan 30. PMID: 36715688; PMCID: PMC9930135.
Jiang W, Lacroix J, Luo YL. (2022) Importance of molecular dynamics equilibrium protocol on protein-lipid interaction near channel pore. Biophys Rep (N Y). 2(4):100080. doi: 10.1016/j.bpr.2022.100080. PMID: 36425669; PMCID: PMC9680783.
Wijerathne TD, Ozkan AD, Lacroix JJ. (2022) Yoda1's energetic footprint on Piezo1 channels and its modulation by voltage and temperature. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 119(29):e2202269119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2202269119. Epub 2022 Jul 11. PMID: 35858335; PMCID: PMC9303978.
Yoo S, Mittelstein DR, Hurt RC, Lacroix J, Shapiro MG. (2022) Focused ultrasound excites cortical neurons via mechanosensitive calcium accumulation and ion channel amplification. Nat Commun13(1):493. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-28040-1. PMID: 35078979; PMCID: PMC8789820.
Full List of Publications:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/jerome.lacroix.1/bibliography/public/