The exocrine pancreas makes up over 95% of the organ, yet remains one of its least understood compartments. How are acinar and ductal cells specified during development? How do they maintain their identity throughout life? And when the tissue is damaged, what molecular programs kick in to restore it?
We study the fundamental biology of exocrine pancreas niche and repair from the signals that drive cell fate decisions during organogenesis to the regenerative responses activated after injury. We are particularly interested in how ductal and acinar cells communicate during regeneration and what determines whether the outcome is successful repair or a first step toward disease.