We study how epithelial tissues generate the right cells in the right places as they renew and regenerate during adulthood. 

Our lab focuses on two of the most dynamic organ systems in mammals: the small intestine and the uterus. The intestinal epithelium is in a constant state of flux, replacing almost all of its cells every 3-5 days, and can rapidly regenerate its diverse cell types upon damage. The human uterine lining (endometrium) undergoes dramatic tissue remodeling each month over the menstrual cycle, followed by shedding during menstruation and subsequent repair, ultimately regenerating ~400 times over the reproductive lifespan. Together, these systems provide powerful complimentary models to reveal unifying principles of regeneration, as well as to identify key aspects of organ-specific physiology.  

We use high-resolution live microscopy to watch and perturb regeneration in real time, and use a variety of genetic, molecular, and cell biological approaches to mechanistically dissect these processes over single-cell and tissue length scales. Our goals are to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the remarkable regenerative capacity of these organs, to understand how defects in these processes give rise to pathologies including cancers and endometriosis, and to harness their regenerative mechanisms for the precise repair of old or damaged tissues.