Dr. Zhaoxia Sun

Biography

Zhaoxia Sun is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Yale University. Her research focuses on the biology and functions of cilia, which are hair-like organelles present on the surface of vertebrate cells. Sun's work addresses how motile cilia facilitate cell movement and fluid flow, while immotile cilia serve as sensory organelles detecting extracellular signals. She investigates ciliopathies, a group of diseases linked to cilia dysfunctions, including polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Sun's laboratory utilizes zebrafish as a model organism due to the conservation of cilia signaling processes across species. She seeks to unravel the mechanisms of cilia biogenesis and motility and their implications in various diseases, striving to enhance the understanding and treatment options for conditions like PKD. Sun has contributed significantly to identifying genetic factors implicated in PCD and exploring novel drug candidates for treating ciliopathies. Her pivotal findings stress the importance of cilia in renal pathology and their potential as therapeutic targets.

Research Interests

Awards