Developmental Biology and Human Disease Models

The focus of our laboratory is to understand how organs develop during embryogenesis. The organogenesis requires precise coordination of multiple biological processes including cell division, differentiation and migration regulated by well-orchestrated processes at the molecular level such as transcription factor activity, cell-to-cell communication, biochemical process and changes in cell architecture, among others.
By studying developmental processes in the embryo, we aim to gain insights into how normal physiological functions are coordinated in adult tissues. Ultimately, this knowledge will help us better understand disease biology, where these cellular and molecular processes become dysregulated.
In particular, we are investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying kidney development and function using zebrafish as a model. We are also interested in creating zebrafish models of human kidney diseases and using these to discover new drug targets. Other areas of interest include endothelial cell biology, angiogenesis, and the regulation of gene expression during embryogenesis. We use genome editing techniques (CRISPR and TALEN), zebrafish transgenesis and a range of functional assays and imaging techniques in our research.