About us
The Waghmare lab is a part of the Department of Biological Sciences at University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell. The lab opened in January 2024.
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Biological question of interest: We all start out as a single cell. This single cell divides over time to give rise to complex tissue and organs, which develop into complex organisms. How are these complex patterns established? These complex patterns are established because cells in a developing tissue can communicate with each other and make decisions about how they behave: whether to divide, die, become a specialized cell (like neurons, muscle), or remain in an undifferentiated state, such as the stem cells that have the potential to develop into specialized cell type. The main goal of our lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate precise cell to cell communication during development and homeostasis, and how this communication is dysregulated in cancers.
Our model organism: Our lab focuses on basic research using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) to make fundamental biological discoveries using a combination of genetic, biochemical, and imaging tools. We love flies because they are easy to care for, inexpensive, and we can use amazing genetic tools to manipulate their genes to understand their function. They also have a short life cycle, which allows us to do several experiments relatively quickly. Importantly, several genes and signaling paradigms in flies are evolutionarily conserved across species including vertebrates. Therefore, lessons from flies have relavance to human health and disease. They really are cool! Our values: We strive to create an environment that is inclusive and provides equal and fair opportunities to all. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds irrespective of their gender, race, sexuality, sexual orientation, religious beliefs (or lack of), disability status, nationality or any identity an individual may identify with. We value hard work, honesty, punctuality, and respect for each other, and we work as a team. ‘Nothing truly valuable can be achieved except by the unselfish cooperation of many individuals.’ –Albert Einstein ‘If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.’– Booker T. Washington Funding: I am currently funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Pathway to Independence Award (K99 (Jan 2022-Dec 2023)/R00 (Jan 2024-Dec 2026)). In the past, I have been a recipient of several intramural awards and fellowships. The research in the Waghmare lab will, in part, be supported by the start-up funds provided by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. |
Haemocytes (blood cells, NimC) attach to normal eye discs and eye discs with polarity mutant cells (green) to communicate with epithelial cells in the eye discs
Early germline cells (Vasa) fail to develop normally when Wnt availability is disrupted in the fly ovary.
Differentiated photorecptor neurons (ELAV) become organized in distinct clusters using different cell-cell comminication signals in the eye disc during development .
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