معرفی
Frank Macabenta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Occidental College. He holds a B.A. from the University of Guam and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University of Medicine and Dentistry. Appointed in 2025, he maintains his office in Bioscience 200B and leads the Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Tissue Homeostasis.
Dr. Macabenta's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying collective cell behavior leading up to organogenesis. His work employs the Drosophila fruit fly model system, utilizing confocal microscopy and various genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology tools. His laboratory specifically investigates:
- Gene regulatory networks controlling cell fitness determination
- Intercellular communication during development
- Collective migration leading to the assembly of larval midgut muscles
- Quality control mechanisms during organ development
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of developmental biology and cell behavior, particularly examining how cells coordinate during organ formation. His work frequently employs Drosophila as a model organism to investigate fundamental biological processes with implications for human health, given that approximately 60% of disease-causing genes are conserved between fruit flies and humans.
Dr. Macabenta leads the Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Tissue Homeostasis, which conducts research on three main projects:
- Interdependent tissue dynamics during collective migration
- MicroRNA-dependent quality control during organ development
- Nonapoptotic roles of caspases
