Nic Tapon has been pivotal in studying the Hippo pathway and its role in growth control. He identified regulators like Salvador, essential for cell-cycle exit and apoptosis. He discovered Kibra as a new component in the Salvador/Warts/Hippo network and elucidated the roles of Fat and Expanded in growth control. His work has provided deep insights into how mechanical tension and apical-basal polarity regulate tissue architecture, contributing to developmental processes and tumor suppression.
