我們的研究興趣在果蠅視覺系統的發育的分子調控機制。目前主要有三個研究方向：（1） 如何決定細胞發育為眼睛，（2） 感光神經細胞與膠細胞在發育過程中的交互作用，（3） 生長中的複眼如何吸引氣管伸入。

The Drosophila eye and antenna arise from a single epithelium disc called the eye-antennal imaginal disc. Genes specifying the eye fate and antenna fate have been identified. We are studying the mechanism for subdividing this disc into distinct eye and antennal field, the interaction between the two parts, and the establishment and maintenance of their boundary.

We are also studying the interaction between the eye and the brain, specifically the interaction between the photoreceptor neurons and glia cells from the brain, including glia in the optic lobe of the brain and the retinal basal glia (RBGs) that migrate from the brain into the eye disc. We are studying the mechanisms regulating the proliferation, survival, migration and distribution of the glia within the visual system, and also their effects on photoreceptor development and functions. We also found that the adult photoreceptors send a survival signal to the optic lamina in the brain to maintain the survival of glia in its target field.

As the eye grows larger, the need for oxygen increases. We found that trachea extends into the growing eye during the pupal stage. The retinal cells secret a FGF ligand to induce the ingrowth of trachea. We are investigating the molecular mechanism regulating this process, and its relationship to hypoxia.