AL DIRI LAB

Our work aims at elucidating the transcriptional regulatory networks that control the transition from retinal proliferation to differentiation and subsequent cell fate choices and how abnormalities in these networks contribute to ocular diseases. In particular, understanding how chromatin architecture is involved in the regulation of gene expression in the retina has been our long-standing interest. Our overarching goal is to gain insights into the principles that govern the link between 3D nuclear organization, chromatin structure and regulation of gene expression during retinogenesis and utilize this information to advance our understanding to the genetic and epigenetic basis of ocular disorders, particularly retinal degenerative diseases. Our group employs multidisciplinary approach that incorporates conventional molecular, cellular and genetic toolkits along with rapidly developing technologies that map genome topology

Primary location: Pittsburgh United States