Physician Investigator (Cl) Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mass General Research Institute

Associate Professor of Pediatrics Harvard Medical School

Pediatrician Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital

MD University of Dusseldorf

MD University of Duesseldorf School of Medicine 1984

adaptor protein complex 1; biosynthetic pathways; brain tumors; caenorhabditis elegans; caenorhabditis elegans proteins; cell polarity; chickenpox; clathrin heavy chains; cytoskeletal proteins; histiocytosis langerhans-cell; mucosal immunity; pediatric cancer; skin; skin diseases; skin diseases vesiculobullous

One of our objectives is to contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of intestinal morphogenesis. C. elegans is a transparent roundworm whose internal organs are formed by different types of tubes constructed from distinct, yet simple, polarized epithelia.

The simplicity of this organism when combined with its sophisticated genetic resources makes it a powerful tool to examine tubulogenesis.

We have recently identified a number of vesicle-associated proteins and lipids that are required for apicobasal plasma membrane domain and lumen foundation.

Understanding organ development will advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of human diseases related to these organs, which in turn should lead to novel approaches for their diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, we hope that this work will translate into a better understanding of: (1) the still enigmatic link between the development of cancer and the disruption of polarity, cell shape and developmental genes, and (2) developmental diseases of internal organs and the vasculature.