Microcephaly is a congenital birth defect manifesting in small head and brain size and associated with intellectual disabilities and developmental delay. While the leading cause of heritable microcephaly is centrosome deregulation, numerous other genes, including RNA-binding proteins, are also implicated. We identified cytoplasmic…

Wound repair and regeneration are fundamental features of animal biology, yet little is known about how these pathways compare across animal lineages. The goals of my research program are: 1) to identify cellular and genetic mechanisms for whole-body regeneration, and 2) to create a framework for rigorous cross-species comparisons to understand…

All animals rely on innate immune responses to protect them from invading pathogens. But how did immunity in animals first evolve? By studying the closest living relatives of animals, the choanoflagellates, we can gain insight into the evolution of animal immune pathways, while uncovering new mechanisms of immunity.

The gut microbiome is an “internal ecosystem” with widespread impacts on health, disease, and response to treatment. I will overview our recent studies that explore the interplay between microbiome, host, and pathogens and how medical drugs can reshape these interactions.