My lab used the nematode C. elegans as a model organism for biomedical studies. Our studies helped to establish that a signal transduction pathway sharing homology with the vertebrate Hedgehog/Patched (Hh/Ptc) signalling pathway underlies sexual cell fate decisions. These studies led to our current research on the role of PTC and PTC-related proteins in cell proliferation, osmolarity control and innate immunity. We are currently taking advantage of the local expertise at Bristol in mitochondrial biochemistry and using the genetic and cell biological tractability of C. elegans to explore the structure and function of mitochondrial protein transporters and their roles in lifespan extension.