Pattern formation in spinal cord development
During organogenesis, stem cells must differentiate into a series of different cell types in a stereotypic manner in order to generate the functional organ. My lab uses the spinal cord as a model system to understand how interactions of different cell signaling pathways (Notch and Hedgehog signaling) drive the precise pattern formation. Utilizing novel in vivo imaging tools to visualize cell signaling activity at the single cell resolution, we aim to address how neural progenitor cells generate different neurons at the correct time and location.

Regulation of tissue maintenance
Skeletal muscles control many of the essential functions that our bodies constantly perform. Defects in muscle function, for instance muscular dystrophy, have profound consequences. Despite extensive studies in muscles, relatively little is known about how muscle-associated non-muscle cells modulate muscle homeostasis. Our lab focuses on defining the developmental origin and in vivo dynamics of different populations of muscle-associated cells. Ultimately, we aim to reveal how muscle-associated cells communicate with muscle fibers in the regulation of muscle regeneration and degeneration.

Zebrafish model of development and diseases
Zebrafish, a small tropical fish, has emerged as a powerful experimental system to study human development and diseases. Approximately 70% of human genes have at least one obvious zebrafish orthologue. We use zebrafish as a model system, because molecular and genetic analyses can be combined with high resolution in vivo imaging and large-scale small molecule screens.