Manipulation of Wnt signaling causes frog embryos to develop with two heads and nervous systems, as revealed by neural-specific staining.  This experiment demonstrates the critical role of Wnt signaling in the development of vertebrate embryos.

My laboratory seeks to understand the molecular basis of cell-to-cell communication, and how this communication regulates embryonic and neural development in vertebrates. We are also interested in learning how defective regulation of cell communication causes human cancers and diseases. In particular, we are investigating signaling mechanisms employed by secreted growth factors of the Wnt family, which play critical roles in establishing the anterior-posterior axis of the embryo and underlie the formation of head versus trunk regions during early embryogenesis. Wnt signaling pathways are also pivotal in the development of human cancers–as several key Wnt signaling components are encoded by human oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes–and in the pathogenesis of many human diseases, such as osteoporosis and degenerative disorders.

We aim to identify molecular components of Wnt signaling pathways and the mechanisms by which Wnt pathways are activated and governed during embryonic development and human tumorigenesis. Over the past decade, we have identified a number of key molecules in Wnt signaling, including kinases and transmembrane receptor components, and elucidated their mechanisms of action in signal transduction. We have also identified or elucidated various important Wnt signaling regulators and their critical functions in head formation, as well as in human skeletal diseases. We carry out our research in frog embryos and genetically engineered mice.

We are also beginning to explore chemical manipulation of Wnt signaling pathways, with the long-term goal of therapeutically targeting Wnt signaling for potential treatment of human cancer and other diseases.