Our lab studies the biology of airway and motile cilia, focusing on how mutations affect their function. Cilia, microscopic hair-like structures lining the airway, are crucial for defending against infections and injuries by moving mucus. Dysfunctional cilia, as seen in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), lead to repeated lung, ear, and sinus infections and contribute to conditions like asthma and COPD. Sensory cilia, related to kidney disease, hearing loss, and blindness, also play essential roles in various cellular functions.
The Horani lab specifically researches airway epithelial cell differentiation and cilia assembly, aiming to understand impaired mucociliary clearance and primary ciliary dyskinesia biology. Using primary cultures of human and mouse cells and genetic manipulation methods, the lab investigates the function of novel proteins involved in ciliogenesis.
