Cell Biology is home to one of the largest concentrations of cilia researchers in the United States. The primary cilium is a solitary, antenna-like organelle found on nearly every human cell. It plays a critical role in cellular signaling, serving as a hub for chemosensory and mechanosensory pathways. Primary cilia regulate key signaling systems, including Hedgehog, Wnt, and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways.
Cell Biology researchers use advanced imaging and collaborative research approaches to better understand primary cilia and their role in human health and disease.
Over the past two decades, dysfunction of this small but essential cellular structure has been linked to more than 35 human diseases and syndromes, including 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 understanding of their roles in health and disease.
Our Cilia Working Group meets monthly for data sharing, troubleshooting, and discussion of current literature, fostering collaboration across laboratories and model systems. Trainees benefit from mentorship across complementary systems and techniques, as well as exposure to the full spectrum of cilia biology from basic structure to human disease.