Dr. Westwood is interested in understanding the molecular, biochemical, and physiological aspects of gene regulation. The model gene systems being studied are the heat shock (hs) genes of Drosophila and humans, which are induced to transcribe when cells are exposed to elevated temperatures or other forms of stress. Current projects involve studying how the transcription factor which specifically regulates hs genes, called heat shock factor (HSF), becomes activated and how active HSF increases hs gene transcription.