Rate My Professor Joseph Campanale

Campanale's research investigates collective cell migrations, focusing on the interplay between conserved polarity signaling paradigms—such as Scribble, Discs Large, and Lethal Giant Larva proteins—in driving morphogenesis via collective cell movement. His laboratory uses fruit fly ovary model systems, including centripetal follicle cells, and mammalian pancreas organoids to explore epithelial behaviors, cell polarity regulation, pancreas organogenesis, metabolism, and duct morphology through Drosophila genetics, live cell microscopy, and 4-dimensional organotypic cell culture. Key publications include "Tissue topography steers migrating border cells" (Science, 2020), "Diverse follower cell behaviors in collective cell migration" (Developmental Cell, 2023), "Cell interactions in collective cell migration" (Development, 2019), "Coordination of protrusion dynamics within and between collectively migrating border cells by myosin II" (Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2019), and "Development and dynamics of cell polarity at a glance" (Journal of Cell Science, 2017). In March 2025, he delivered a public lecture titled "Leaders and followers in collective migration, who’s really in charge?" at the UNLV Science Café. His expertise encompasses developmental biology, cell and molecular biology, quantitative microscopy, collective cell behavior, genetics, and morphogenesis.