Cellular communication

Proper embryogenesis and organ function is critically dependent on finely-tuned intra- and intercellular communications. Our lab is devoted to further unravel the mechanisms via which populations of cells within the cardiovascular system propagate signals, interact with each other and coordinate their activities. To test our current hypotheses, we have developed several state-of-the-art imaging techniques to visualize a range of signals at cellular or sub-cellular resolution in the developing zebrafish. We have used these techniques to understand the in vivo dynamics of the non-canonical Wnt pathway and the integration of complex signals from traditional developmental pathways. Primary areas of focus include, but are not restricted to cardiomyocyte-cardiomyocyte, endocardial-myocardial interactions and the neurovascular interactome.