Building cell diversity
How do retinal progenitors generate different cell identities, and how are differentiation programs coordinated?
QUESTIONS & APPROACHES
Understanding the retina,
across time and species.
Retinal development, aging and evolution are our current research focus. RNA regulation and cell-fate mechanisms provide complementary perspectives.
Retinal development, aging & evolution
We are interested in how retinal cell types are generated, how their molecular states change with age, and which features are conserved or divergent across species. These questions guide our use of molecular biology, single-cell and spatial expression analysis, and functional studies.
Changing through time
How do retinal cell states and regulatory programs change with age, and what may underlie selective vulnerability?
Comparing across species
Which molecular programs are shared across species, and how do retinal cell types and visual specializations diverge?
Post-transcriptional control of differentiation
Our publication record spans piRNA-mediated mRNA regulation, translation of stored mRNAs, biomolecular condensation and 3′-UTR regulation. These studies provide a foundation for investigating how gene expression is coordinated with cellular differentiation.
Related publications ↗Molecular transitions and chromatin regulation
Cell differentiation involves coordinated changes in RNA, chromatin and cellular architecture. Published studies include histone-to-protamine exchange, PHF7-mediated histone regulation and mechanisms underlying spermiogenesis.