Our laboratory studies basic mechanisms involved in the generation of epithelial cell polarity using two model systems, the polarized epithelial cell line MDCK and the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.We study the causes of Age Related Macular Degeneration, a disease in which the RPE plays a key role. Our laboratory discovered in 1978 that enveloped viruses, such as influenza virus bud in a polarized manner from the cell surface. We are also interested in the Cell Biology and Diseases of Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), which plays a key support role for both retina and photoreceptors.
