Research
The Tan Lab studies core principles of cell
biology in aging, with particular interest in basic molecular mechanisms
underlying cellular homeostasis and stress response. Organelle stress and
damages are common risk factors in aging and diseases. A major goal of our lab
is elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the sensing, repairing, and
clearance of damaged organelles in mammalian cells. We search for essential,
unifying principles behind complex stress responses through unbiased
approaches, and dissect underlying mechanisms with multidisciplinary methods
including molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics. Current
research topics include lysosomal quality control in aging and
neurodegeneration, inter-organelle communications in cell homeostasis, and
lysosomal stress in age-related inflammation