Welcome to the Axelrod Lab!

Most cells polarize, generating molecular and morphological asymmetry in response to information from their environment. The Axelrod lab is studying Planar Cell Polarity (PCP), a mechanism by which epithelial cells polarize along an axis orthogonal to their apical-basal axis, using a combination of genetic, molecular, cell biological and mathematical approaches. We wish to understand the systems logic underlying PCP signaling and the molecular mechanisms that carry out that logic. We use the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as a model system in these investigations.

Our studies aim to understand the mechanisms responsible for providing, interpreting and executing orientation signals. These signals are important not only in development, but also are of central importance to a variety of developmental defects and disease states, including heart malformations, neural tube closure defects, congenital deafness, polycystic kidneys, ciliary dyskinesia and cancer, in which PCP mechanisms are mis-regulated.

Please visit this page if you are interested in opportunities.