Our Research

 

The Sun Lab investigates how the human genome orchestrates the development, renewal, and repair of the skin. We study how genetic and molecular disruptions in these processes lead to skin diseases that affect millions worldwide. Our goal is to uncover new mechanisms of skin biology and translate them into better diagnostics and treatments.

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We use human skin organoids, primary cells, and patient-derived samples to study how genetic variants affect epidermal differentiation, pigmentation, and wound healing. Our current projects focus on:

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• Alternative mRNA splicing and isoform diversity as a new layer of regulation in skin biology.

• Secreted proteins and paracrine signaling that coordinate tissue repair and regeneration.

• Noncoding genomic elements such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and regulatory RNAs that influence epidermal fate.

• Genetic mosaicism, where postzygotic genetic and epigenetic changes lead to distinctive skin patterns and provide unique models to understand skin biology.

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Our experimental toolkit includes CRISPR genome engineering, patient-derived organoid and iPSC models, and multi-omic methods such as RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and long-read sequencing. Together, these approaches allow us to connect genomic changes to cellular behaviors and clinical outcomes.