More than any other model organism, Drosophila has yielded insight into the interaction between self renewing stem cells and their microenvironment (stem cell niches). We are studying stem cell-niche development/interaction in the Drosophila blood system, the intestine, and the brain. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms of stem cell maintenance in these model systems and further understand the signaling required for cell fate specification.
Group Members: Shigeo Takashima, Manash Paul, Patrick Aghajanian