From performing large-scale genetic experiments to discovering new antifungal treatments, the Dudley lab at the Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI) is a world leader in using yeast to answer fundamental questions in biology. We are passionate about applying and developing new technologies – and about translating discoveries from our lab into real-world applications.

The Dudley lab experiments in yeast because yeast cells function in much the same way as human cells. However, with yeast, we can perform experiments much faster, and on a grander scale, than scientists can with human cells. We study a wide range of diseases, from fungal infections afflicting people with compromised immune systems to inborn errors of metabolism, a group of genetic diseases that can be fatal if not detected early.

Our drive to answer more questions using yeast inspired us to sample yeast strains from dozens of countries across the globe. We collected several hundred new strains of yeast from coffee and cacao beans – providing valuable resources for our lab and labs across the world.