The Hilgendorf Lab studies how molecular mechanisms regulate adult stem cell expansion and differentiation to ensure proper tissue homeostasis, expansion, and regeneration. A major focus of the lab is studying the molecular mechanisms regulating fat tissue, and how obesity-driven changes lead to co-morbidities, such as diabetes and cancer. We use a combination of animal models and cell culture techniques. We are very interested in how the primary cilium senses and organizes signal transduction pathways to regulate stem cell fate.
