Pablo Lara-Gonzalez

Pablo Lara-Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology at the University of California, Irvine, within the Dunlop School of Biological Sciences. His research program investigates molecular mechanisms regulating cell cycle decisions in development, with emphasis on quiescence and mitotic fidelity using C. elegans as a model organism.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Universidad de Concepcion (Chile), followed by a PhD at the University of Manchester (UK) under Dr. Stephen Taylor, and completed postdoctoral training at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in San Diego with Arshad Desai.

Dr. Lara-Gonzalez's research addresses two core questions: (1) How developmental cues regulate entry/exit from G2 quiescence—a critical but understudied cell cycle pause state—and (2) How mitotic timing is controlled to balance chromosome segregation accuracy with developmental viability. His lab employs cell biology, genomic editing, live imaging, and proteomics to dissect these mechanisms, revealing implications for developmental disorders and cancer where cell cycle control fails.

Analysis of his recent publications shows consistent focus on spindle assembly checkpoint dynamics, kinetochore-microtubule interactions, and APC/C regulation in embryonic cell cycles. The work predominantly leverages C. elegans to uncover evolutionarily conserved principles of cell division, with increasing exploration of neural development contexts in newer studies.

As Principal Investigator of the Lara-Gonzalez lab, he leads a research team while contributing to academic service including the Journal of Cell Biology Editorial Committee. He actively participates in UCI outreach initiatives such as ReachOut TeachOut and Hispanic Heritage Month events, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and classical cinema outside research.