Home Department: Chemistry
Mentor: Rajat Rohatgi, Biochemistry and Medicine (Oncology)

The Hedgehog signaling pathway mediates communication between cells in both developing and adult tissues. Breakdown of this communication system can cause birth defects, cancer, and degenerative conditions. Sara will investigate how the Hedgehog signal is transmitted across the cell surface from the cell exterior to the cell interior, a step that is commonly damaged in human diseases associated with Hedgehog signaling.