Chunxue Song

Research

Project title: Mechanisms of cilia shape diversity

Project acronym: Cilia-Glia

Societal challenges: Health and Well-being

Our nervous system relies on specialised cells to detect and respond to information from the environment. Many of these cells use tiny hair-like structures called cilia, which act as cellular “antennas” that help sense external signals. Defects in cilia are linked to a wide range of human disorders, yet we still know surprisingly little about how cilia acquire their diverse shapes and how these shapes contribute to their function.

The Cilia-Glia project investigates how cilia are shaped and maintained through interactions between neurons and glial cells, which are two major cell types of the nervous system. Using a tiny nematode worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) as a model organism, the project combines genetics and advanced imaging approaches to explore how glial cells influence cilia shape and how changes in cilia morphology affect sensory function.

Understanding how cilia are formed and regulated is important for both basic biology and human health. The knowledge generated by Cilia-Glia will advance our understanding of how the nervous system senses and responds to the environment while providing new insights into disorders associated with cilia dysfunction. By addressing fundamental questions in neuroscience and cell biology, the project contributes to the broader societal challenge of promoting health and well-being.