We use mouse behavior analysis, molecular and in vivo genetic approaches along with live imaging of cells in slice cultures to study development of the folded brain structure, the cerebellum, in order to uncover genetic and cellular principals underlying morphogenesis, scaling of cells during circuit formation and regeneration of damaged cells after injury from stem/progenitor cells.

We study how hedgehog (HH) signaling regulates growth of the cerebellum through stimulating several progenitor populations, including coordinating proportional growth of multiple cell types, and also underlies initiation and progression of the SHH subgroup of the pediatric brain tumor, medulloblastoma.