Cell Biology is home to one of the largest concentrations of cilia researchers in the United States. The primary ciliuma solitary, antenna-like organelle present on nearly every human cell plays a specialized and critical role in cellular signaling. Acting as a central hub for both chemo- and mechanosensory pathways, primary cilia regulate key signaling systems, including Hedgehog, Wnt, and G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways. Over the past two decades, dysfunction of this tiny yet essential cellular structure has been linked to more than 35 human diseases and syndromes, such as obesity and diabetes, polycystic kidney disease, brain malformations, cardiovascular disorders, skeletal abnormalities, and cancer. Our seven NIH-funded, cilia-focused laboratories use a wide range of experimental approaches and model systems to investigate the structure, formation, and function of primary cilia, advancing our understanding of their roles in health and disease.
Our Cilia Working Group meets monthly for data sharing, troubleshooting, and current literature discussions, fostering collaboration across labs and model systems. Trainees benefit from mentorship across complementary systems and techniques, and exposure to the full spectrum of cilia biology, from basic structure to human disease.