Welcome to the Kumari Lab

Taste is essential not only for the enjoyment of our favorite foods but also for protecting us from consuming harmful substances. When taste is lost or disrupted, our overall well-being is affected. Taste disturbances can arise for many reasons—COVID-19 infection being a widely recognized example. In addition, several medical treatments, particularly those used for cancer, can cause profound taste loss as a side effect. We aim to uncover the mechanisms underlying some of these taste disruptions.

A major future direction in my laboratory focuses on understanding the regulation of tongue and taste organ development, homeostasis, regeneration, and taste sensation, with a central emphasis on Hedgehog (HH) signaling. With over a decade of experience in HH signaling and oral biology, I recognized the potential of targeting HH signaling as a therapeutic strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma and recently expanded my research to study oral cancer.

Students are welcome to join her to explore this exciting sensory organ!