Laboratories in the department combine cellular and model organisms (such as worms, flies, fish, frogs, and mice) with state-of-the-art genetic, genomic and proteomic technologies to study fundamental aspects of Developmental Biology. These studies range from the analyses of chromatin dynamics and RNA regulation to the study of the cellular processes and microenvironment alterations that impact cell fate decisions during morphogenesis.
Collectively, the fundamental insights gained from Developmental Biology studies are later translated to stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and cancer through collaborative efforts within the rich environment of the Biochemistry & Cell Biology Department and aim to propel advances in molecular medicine for human related disorders.
Faculty conducting research in these areas:
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Michael Blower
Professor
Mitosis, transcription, chromatin structure
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Daniel Cifuentes
Associate Professor
RNA regulation, developmental biology, virology
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Stephen R. Farmer
Professor
Growth and differentiation of cells, adipose tissue biology
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Mikel Garcia-Marcos
Professor of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Professor of BiologyG protein signaling circuits in the molecular basis of disease
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Alla Grishok
Associate Professor
Gene regulation by RNA and chromatin
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Nelson C. Lau
Associate Professor
Director, Genome Science Institute (GSI)Transposable element regulation, RNAi, regulatory RNAs, gene silencing
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Vickery Trinkaus-Randall
Professor
purinoreceptors, EGFR receptors, confocal imaging, wound repair, cell communication and migration
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Xaralabos (Bob) Varelas
Professor
Hippo-YAP/TAZ Signaling, Lung Epithelial Biology, Cancer Biology, Tissue Regeneration and Fibrosis, Immune Cell Functions