Ralf Langen, PhD, researches basic areas of protein folding and misfolding, and particular emphasis is placed on these processes when they occur on or around membranes. The interaction of proteins with membranes underlies many important biological processes. Proteins can regulate the structure and function of biological membranes by controlling the composition, fluidity, permeability and curvature of cellular membranes. Membranes, in turn, can have a pronounced effect on the structure and function of proteins and help to promote physiologically important structural reorganizations of proteins. In addition, membrane interaction can also result in protein misfolding which could ultimately cause disease.