Previous Research

Function and malfunction of primary cilia

Primary cilia transduce sensory stimuli and also mediate cell signaling which controls embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Mutations in cilium-associated genes give rise to diverse symptoms in humans including renal cyst, retinal degeneration, and brain malformation. Moreover, primary cilia have been shown to modulate the progression of Hedgehog-dependent cancers. We seek to understand the regulatory network governing the assembly and disassembly of cilia. In addition, we try to identify lead compounds for the treatment of cilia-related diseases.