Stanford University · BiologyPlanar Cell Polarity Research Unit
Jeffrey D. Axelrod · Stanford, California
Research Focus
In Jeffrey D. Axelrod's lab at Stanford University, researchers focus on understanding planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling, a critical process that ensures cells are correctly oriented and positioned within tissues. This signaling pathway is important for proper heart development and can lead to congenital heart defects when disrupted. The lab employs the fruit fly Drosophila as a model organism, using advanced genetic, imaging, and biochemical techniques to uncover the mechanisms behind PCP signaling. Their work not only advances basic biology but also aims to inform potential treatments for related diseases.
planar cell polaritycell signalingheart developmentgenetic toolsDrosophilacongenital heart defectsmolecular mechanismssingle molecule imagingbiochemistryfeedback systems
Research Aims
5AIM 01Elucidate the feedback circuits in planar cell polarity signaling
AIM 02Understand how clustering affects cellular asymmetry
AIM 03Investigate molecular interactions in the PCP pathway
AIM 04Develop novel genetic tools for studying PCP
AIM 05Explore the therapeutic potential for PCP-related heart anomalies
Skills the Lab Values
Drosophila geneticshigh-resolution microscopybiochemical assaysmolecular cloningsingle molecule imagingadvanced imaging techniquesdata analysis with Pythoncell culturemolecular biology techniquescomputational modeling
Output against the department
Publications221top 28% of dept.292nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations11ktop 34% of dept.354th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.