Involution is the process by which the mammary gland returns to its non-lactating state, via weaning-induced cell death of milk-producing alveolar cells. The ubiquitin ligase RLIM functions as a critical survival factor specifically for the alveolar cell type in mammary glands of pregnant and lactating female mice. Research in the Bach lab aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of how RLIM promotes alveolar cell survival and how involution is triggered upon weaning.