Dr. Lau is interested in understanding the functions of the Y chromosome genes and their homologues in human development, physiology and disease. Recent efforts are focused on the gene regulatory hierarchy in mammalian sex determination and differentiation, the contrasting roles of a Y-located oncogene and its X-homologue tumor suppressor in human oncogenesis, and the contributions of the Y chromosome genes in sexual dimorphisms in human diseases, such as autism, Hirschsprung disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma with high male preference in the respective patient populations. Various advanced molecular genetic, genomic, proteomic, and transgenic mouse modeling strategies are utilized in these studies.