Dr. Maureen Barr's lab focuses on understanding cilia and their roles in a variety of human health issues, particularly ciliopathies, which are diseases caused by defects in cilia. Using the model organism C. elegans, her team investigates how cilia develop and change, including how they produce extracellular vesicles that have implications for kidney disease. The research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that control these processes in hopes of identifying potential therapies for diseases like polycystic kidney disease and nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies.

Dr. Gleb Shumyatsky's lab at Rutgers focuses on understanding how maternal behaviors are influenced by specific brain circuits, particularly during the transition to motherhood. The research explores how changes in the brain affect the way mothers respond to stress and threats, which is crucial for the well-being of both mothers and their children. Through cutting-edge techniques, they aim to uncover the genetic and synaptic mechanisms that link brain circuitry to maternal care behaviors.