The focus of this laboratory is the study of cholesterol on mammalian cells and animals. We use biochemical, molecular biology, biophysical and genomic tools to characterize cholesterol and membrane dynamics. We have recently extended study of cholesterol to fundamental cellular processes, such as mitochondria respiration, gene expression and epigenetics, with tools such as RNA-seq and CUT&Tag-seq. It is increasingly evident that, through its direct influence on cellular membranes, cholesterol impacts on various aspects of homeostasis in mammalian cells and animals. Cholesterol dysregulation perturbs such homeostasis and may be causal in many important acute or chronic pathological conditions.

*We are always looking for talented and motivated graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to join our research team. Please send your curriculum vitae and brief statement of research interest to xzha@ohri.ca.