Brian A. Link

Brian A. Link, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His research focuses on the cell biology of signaling pathways during development and disease, primarily using zebrafish as a model system. He leads the Link Lab, which investigates ocular development, neuroepithelial dynamics, and signaling networks such as Notch, BMP/Smad, and Hippo-Yap/Taz. Key projects include studying retinal development, glaucoma pathogenesis, and hyperopia mechanisms.

Education includes a PhD from Oregon Health & Sciences University (1997), a BS from UC San Diego (1991), and postdoctoral training at Harvard University (2001). The lab develops tools for studying endocytosis, vesicle trafficking, and nuclear dynamics, and collaborates on translational research and student/postdoc training.

Research interests emphasize the interplay of signaling pathways in retinal progenitor cells, neurogenesis, and disease models like myopia and glaucoma. His work integrates imaging and genome-editing techniques to understand cellular mechanisms underlying ocular disorders.

Advising and training are central to his role, with a focus on collaborative research and career development. The lab also studies cardiovascular and renal diseases, leveraging zebrafish models to explore Yap/Taz signaling in cardiac repair and glomerular filtration barrier integrity.

Current projects include investigating Shroom3's role in kidney disease, the pathophysiology of Usher syndrome, and antibiotic development using zebrafish TB models. The lab’s transgenic tools and imaging approaches enable detailed analysis of cellular processes in vivo.