Dr. Claudia Vasquez’s laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying functional organ development. Her research centers on the Malpighian tubules, the renal system of fruit flies, which undergo remarkable transformations in cell shape and organization to form elongated structures responsible for urine production.
Using cutting-edge techniques in cell and tissue biology, genome editing, and advanced imaging, Dr. Vasquez explores how the reorganization of molecular architecture and structural protein networks drives cellular morphology changes. This fundamental research has significant translational potential, potentially informing strategies for engineering functional organs for transplantation.
Moreover, as Malpighian tubules are essential organs in disease-transmitting insects, her findings could reveal novel targets for controlling vectors of diseases like dengue and malaria. This dual application in both organ transplantation technology and infectious disease control underscores the broad impact of her pioneering research.
