University of Maryland-College Park · BiologyThe Cytoneme Initiative
Sougata Roy · College Park, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Sougata Roy's research lab at the University of Maryland focuses on how cells communicate with one another during animal development. By studying a model organism called Drosophila (fruit fly), the lab investigates the role of specialized structures called cytonemes, which are used by cells to physically send and receive important signaling molecules. Understanding these communication processes could provide insights into developmental diseases and contribute to advances in tissue engineering.
cell communicationDrosophilacytonemesdevelopmental biologyFGF signalingtissue architecturesignal exchangeactin dynamicspolarized signaling
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanisms of cytoneme-mediated signaling in Drosophila.
AIM 02Characterize the role of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) in tissue development.
AIM 03Examine how feedback mechanisms regulate cytoneme formation and directionality.
AIM 04Explore post-translational modifications of signaling proteins influencing cell communication.
AIM 05Determine the implications of cytoneme-mediated signaling in developmental abnormalities and disease.
Skills the Lab Values
microscopycell culturegenetic manipulationhigh-resolution imagingmolecular biology techniquesDrosophila geneticssignal transduction assaysdata analysisactin filament imaging
Output against the department
Publications45bottom 10% of dept.930th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.4kbottom 9% of dept.943rd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.