This research investigates how coordinated and random patterns of cell division shape facial development. Using 3D imaging of mouse embryos, it reveals that the direction of cell division—not just its location—drives tissue growth. Balancing orderly and chaotic cellular behaviours may be key to understanding healthy face formation and preventing developmental defects.

This research explores how tissue-resident macrophages guide immature heart muscle cells during early development. By identifying immune signals that enable scar-free heart regeneration in newborns, the work aims to uncover therapeutic pathways that could restore regenerative capacity and improve outcomes for patients with heart disease.

Craniosynostosis occurs when skull sutures fuse too early, requiring risky surgeries. The researcher identified microRNA-200A as a key regulator of suture development. In mice lacking miR-200A, sutures fused prematurely, but adding extra miR-200A via gene therapy prevented fusion entirely. This breakthrough suggests a non-surgical future treatment for craniosynostosis.

Cleft lip formation may result from broken DNA enhancers—switches that control facial development genes. Scanning the genomes of 130 African children with clefts, this research identified harmful enhancer variants and confirmed their effects in mouse models. The disrupted enhancer likely regulates BMP2, offering new insight into cleft biology and future prevention.

Balanced cell growth is essential: too much can cause cancer, too little can cause skeletal disorders. This PhD project investigates a mysterious protein linked to dwarfism. By tagging it with GFP, the researcher discovered it drives fat-droplet formation, revealing a previously unknown function that may explain its powerful effects on body growth.