Dr. Malinda is a cell and developmental biologist investigating the mechano-regulation of collective cell migration in early development of vertebrates, using Xenopus laevis as a model organism. He is studying the gastrulation movements in Xenopus to understand the mechanical regulatory mechanisms responsible for this collective and coordinated cellular movement. Previously, he focused on the cellular mechanisms regulating primary cilia disassembly in mammalian cells. He identified a novel role of Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-beta signaling in ciliary disassembly. In parallel, he also showed that ion transport proteins NHE1 and NBCn1 contribute to the Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in pancreatic cancer.
