The laboratory investigates the molecular and cellular basis of regeneration and regulatory networks controlling adult and de novo neurogenesis using the Hydra model system. Hydra is a simple freshwater cnidarian polyp with regenerative capabilities and a sophisticated nervous system. Research focuses on mechanisms maintaining dynamic homeostasis, supporting regeneration including de novo neurogenesis, stem cell function and regulation, and evolutionary conservation of these mechanisms. Recent findings demonstrate that cell death plays a key role in initiating head regeneration as dying cells deliver signals promoting neighbor proliferation, representing an evolutionarily-conserved mechanism to trigger regeneration across species including Drosophila, Xenopus, and mice.