Research Interests
My laboratory is broadly interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the regulation of important cell and developmental signaling cascades. Specifically, we focus on the cell biology of primary cilia. These are antenna-like organelles that are essential for receiving, integrating, and mediating a variety of signals from the cellular micro-environment. Because of their vital signaling role, cilia are important for the development and function of many tissues and organs. Consequently, dysfunction of primary cilia leads to a variety of human genetic syndromes, and is increasingly linked to conditions including neurodegeneration and cancer. Projects in my laboratory are focused on understanding how cells regulate the assembly and disassembly of their cilia, and on the links between ciliary signals and diseases- primarily neurological disorders.
Because these structures are vital in so many cellular and developmental processes, work in my laboratory overlaps with a variety of scientific areas. Some of these include neurobiology, the cell biology of the cytoskeleton, the molecular biology of cell signaling cascades, and developmental biology. We approach these problems using an array of techniques and tools, ranging from classical mouse genetics, to super-resolution imaging, and CRISPR/Cas-9 genetic modification techniques, among others.