Eric Hall, PhD

Research summary

In the Hall lab we seek to understand how cells coordinate differentiation and spatial organization to form and maintain functional tissues and organs. Our research focuses on contact-based intercellular signalling by long specialized signaling filopodia called cytonemes. In the lab we develop and use new tissue handling and microscopy protocols to study cytonemes and their cargo proteins. 

Working in both cell culture and mouse tissues by combining molecular assays with wide range of light and electron microscopy methodologies we are understanding how cytonemes facilitate intercellular protein movement for cell-cell communication. Our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of how cytonemes form, where they function in the body, and understand how defects in cytoneme-mediated signaling contributes to developmental disorders, and tumor-stroma signaling.

Research themes

• Cell-cell communication and signal transduction
• Tissue preservation and microscopy protocol development
• Neurodevelopment and stem cell niches
• Actomyosin cytoskeleton

Keywords

• Cytoneme
• Myosin 10
• cell-cell communication
• morphogens
• light and electron microscopy
• neurodevelopment
• stem cell niches

Research affiliations

Investigator, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

Dr. Eric Hall is an assistant professor at the Max Rady College of Medicine in the Human Anatomy and Cell Science Department. He received his BSc in Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology at University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. 

Following this he obtained his PhD in Dr. Esther Verheyen’s group at Simon Fraser University, using Drosophila genetics to study and identify and new regulators in Wnt and Notch signalling pathways. Following this he moved to Memphis, Tennessee for his postdoctoral research in Dr. Stacey Ogden’s group at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Here he studied long specialized filopodia known as cytonemes that transport signaling proteins from one cell to another. 

He investigated if these structures, originally detected in fruit flies, also existed in mammalian cells and tissues as well. This launched his research into developing new methods and approaches to better preserve cells and tissues to visualize and study cytonemes. Using these techniques, he found that cytonemes are present the developing mouse nervous system and are required to aid in spreading essential signalling proteins. 

In the fall of 2024, Dr Hall joined the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science to continue to investigate how cytonemes form and where they contribute to tissue patterning and maintenance, both in health tissue and disease states. Students and postdocs interested in the new field of cytoneme biology are encouraged to contact Dr. Hall through email for possible research opportunities.

Education

Postdoctoral fellow, Cell and Molecular Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital (2024)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University (2017)

Bachelor of Science (BSc), Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus (2011)