Expandable lung progenitors cultured in 3D producing membranous epithelium of alveolar type I (podoplanin, red) at the periphery, and centrally located, granular epithelium of alveolar type II-like, possessing progenitor phenotype (NKX2-1, green). Cell nuclei in blue. Image by J. Herudkova, 2025.

Our lab investigates the role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the plasticity and regeneration of both normal and diseased epithelial tissues. We study how canonical and non-canonical ER signaling pathways influence tissue responses to various forms of cellular stress, and how these responses drive tissue regeneration and progenitor cell differentiation across multiple epithelial systems, specifically, in the lung alveoli. Our research involves state-of-the-art microscopy techniques, including super-resolution and live-cell imaging, along with a range of molecular, bioanalytical, and histological methods. Additionally, we develop cutting-edge bioanalytical approaches for cell profiling and phenotyping, using whole-cell mass spectrometry and chemometrics.