Arindam Majumdar Lab

My lab is using the zebrafish pronephros as a genetics and biomedical model system to identify the developmental signals that control vertebrate nephrogenesis and to understand how these signals become mis-regulated in disease states. Major areas of research include cell fate, cell-cell communication, epithelial polarity, tubulogenesis, podocyte differentiation and glomerular function.

Recently, we have applied the zebrafish pronephros as an experimental system to conduct a novel, in vivo functional screen for genes required for glomerular filtration. We have coupled morpholino knockdown with a physiological glomerular filtration assay that can be performed in living zebrafish larvae. Using this screen, we have identified several genes which are required for the selective permeability of the glomerular filtration barrier, a major target in human glomerular pathologies. The screen has identified new genes and signaling pathways that are currently under study.