The goal of our research is to understand how two important cellular organelles, the centrosome and cilium, organize signaling pathways that influence diverse cellular functions. These highly conserved organelles are involved in regulation of cell-cycle progression, cell differentiation, polarity, and migration. Defects in the structure and function of centrosomes and cilia lead to a range of human disease conditions known collectively as “Ciliopathies”. These include developmental defects such as polycystic kidney disease, airway and lung disease, infertility, and cancer.
We employ genomic, proteomic, biochemical and cell biological methods to delineate the regulation of centrosome-cilium assembly and function. We are interested in understanding the basic biology of these organelles in cells, using in vitro cell culture systems and model organisms. Moreover, we are studying the consequences of abnormal centrosome and cilium function in human disease, with particular emphasis on the development of ciliopathies affecting the kidney (polycystic kidney disease, nephronophthisis and renal cancers) and lung disease (primary cilia dyskinesia).