Assoc. Prof. Li, Sam

Cilia are tiny, hair-like structures found on the surface of many types of cells in the body - from early-stage embryonic cells to the specialized cells in the eye that help us see. These structures are important because they help cells move, sense their environment, and communicate. Each cilium is made up of hundreds of different proteins, but scientists still don’t fully understand how all these proteins come together in just the right way to build a working cilium.

Our research aims to uncover how cilia are built at the molecular level. To do this, we use advanced imaging techniques, such as electron cryo-tomography, to take detailed pictures of cilia. We also study the roles of individual proteins during the building process. By learning how cilia are assembled and controlled, we hope to better understand diseases called ciliopathies, which are caused by problems with cilia. This knowledge could eventually help in developing new treatments for these conditions.

Research Areas

Structural biology, Cell biology, Electron cryo-tomography