Sarah Hughes

Sarah Hughes is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking cell polarity, proliferation, and differentiation in epithelial cells and neural stem cells, with implications for developmental disorders and cancers like Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Atypical Rhabdoid Tumours.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Toronto

Using Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model, she investigates post-transcriptional regulation, tumour suppressor proteins, and signaling pathways. Her work employs molecular biology, proteomics, and advanced microscopy.

Recent publications highlight studies on chromatin remodeling in neural stem cells, lipid droplet dynamics, and Merlin/Moesin regulation in cell polarity. Her lab members include Post-doctoral Fellow Sophie Keegan and Graduate Students Nguyen Cai and Maryam Khandani.