The central aim of the Pichaud lab is to characterize the genetic, cellular and molecular bases of cell morphogenesis and polarity during development.

Polarity underpins the function of many cell types, developmental processes and organs. The polarized specialization of the cell cortex and plasma membrane enables epithelial cells to form sheets during organogenesis, neural circuit formation and asymmetric cell division as well as directed cell migration. 

Elucidating how cell polarity arises, is maintained or remodeled during development is a major step toward understanding organogenesis, and a wide range of congenital disorders and pathologies such as cancer and neurodevelopmental diseases.