Deciphering Notch signalling dynamics in vivo

Cells need to communicate with each other to make and organise tissues and correctly decipher the information they receive. Mistakes are at the root of many inherited diseases and cancers. We will focus on the Notch pathway, which provides key information during tissue development and maintenance. 

The Notch activity pathway turns genes on. We will investigate how this occurs in developing animals. We will use fly embryos as a model to visualise events in real time, directly measuring gene activities in cells and their response. We will then examine the effects when we disturb different steps to learn how cells accurately perceive Notch signals to make appropriate decisions.  

Manipulating Notch signals in a controlled way will offer strategies for regulating stem cells or for treating diseases driven by incorrect Notch signalling.