Lab Research Interests

Our laboratory studies how signaling networks control T cell function in health and disease, with a major focus on T cell receptor and CAR T cell signaling using state-of-the-art quantitative LC-MS proteomic workflows. We investigate the phosphorylation-driven pathways that regulate immune cell activation, feedback control, and signaling crosstalk, because these molecular events shape how T cells respond to cancer, infection, and other disease states. By defining these pathways at high resolution, we aim to uncover mechanisms of immune dysfunction and identify signaling nodes that may be leveraged therapeutically.

We also study how CAR T cell design alters signaling in both engineered immune cells and the tumor cells they encounter. This has direct relevance to human health because CAR-driven signaling can influence therapeutic efficacy, persistence, toxicity, and in some cases unintended target-cell responses. Through the integration of advanced phosphoproteomics, biochemical approaches, and computational analysis, our work seeks to define the molecular mechanisms that will guide the development of safer and more effective next-generation cancer immunotherapies.

More broadly, our research is directed toward translating fundamental discoveries in cell signaling into insight that can improve the treatment of cancer and immune-related disease.

Facilities, Resources, and Environment

The Salomon Research Group is located in the Laboratories for Molecular Medicine in the Jewelry District of Providence, Rhode Island, occupying 1,000 square feet of laboratory space on the fourth floor of 70 Ship Street. The laboratory is immediately adjacent to the Brown Proteomics Core Facility, providing direct access to state-of-the-art mass spectrometry instrumentation. Core instrumentation includes an Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Ascend Tribrid Mass Spectrometer equipped with FAIMS (1S10OD036295-01 PI: A. Salomon), a Vanquish Neo UHPLC, two nanospray sources (EasySpray and NanoFlex), and a TECAN A200 for automated proteomic sample preparation. A Thermo Scientific Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer coupled to an UltiMate3000 nanoRSLC UHPLC is also available for pilot studies and method development. The facility is supported by strong institutional commitment, including a PhD-level director (Nicholas A. DaSilva, PhD), PhD-level technical staff, and a service contract that ensures reliable instrument performance. The close integration of the Proteomics Core with the Salomon laboratory has also fostered productive methodological and computational collaboration, strengthening the development of quantitative phosphoproteomic workflows and data analysis strategies. These combined resources provide an exceptional environment for high-sensitivity, reproducible LC-MS studies of T cell and CAR T cell signaling in human disease.