At the Barlett Lab, we develop in silico tools to explore the molecular complexity and therapeutic potential of toxins—bioactive compounds derived from a variety of organisms such as plants and cone snail. Our research uses multi-omics approaches, including transcriptomics and proteomics to achieve a systems-level understanding of conotoxin biology.

We are particularly interested in how the bioactive properties of these peptides can be harnessed to develop novel treatments for chronic pain, cancer, and other diseases that currently lack effective therapies. Conotoxins’ high specificity for ion-channel receptors make them ideal candidates for treating chronic pain.