Understanding basic developmental processes can provide critical insights for understanding the pathophysiology of human diseases. My lab utilizes the zebrafish animal model to functionally characterize the mechanisms by which individual genes and interacting biochemical pathways are coordinated for proper development and visual function.
I have a long-standing interest in the signal transduction mechanisms that shape the developing embryo, from early training in Drosophila genetics, to current studies in zebrafish organogenesis. The rapid development of the zebrafish, with visual function by three days after fertilization, allows for the identification and validation of treatment paradigms for blinding disorders. By coupling in vivo physiological imaging with manipulation of gene function, our lab established the zebrafish as a model for Bardet-Biedl Syndrome defining the cardinal features of gene knockdown affecting ciliated tissues, visual function and retrograde transport. Moreover, our genetic interaction studies using knockdown and RNA rescue are a powerful approach to understanding the role of newly discovered retinal disease causing genes in both development and disease progression.