Michael Lovett, Ph.D. Professor Genetics Pediatrics Human and Statistical Genetics Program Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program Developmental Biology Program Molecular Cell Biology Program
Office Phone: 314-747-3265 Lab Phone: 314-747-1059 Other Phone: FAX: 314-747-2489 Box: 8232 Lab Address: 331 Biotechnology Building Email: lovett@wustl.edu Website: http://hg.wustl.edu Keywords: genome analysis; gene expression; development; functional genomics; arthritis Short Research Description: Human genetic diseases, genome technologies, systems biology, functional genomics of hearing loss and craniofacial development.
Research Abstract: We have three areas of interest. The first is genome technology development with a focus upon approaches to elucidate the molecular genetic basis for human diseases. Under this heading lies; (1) our development of new methods for isolating and resequencing large genomic regions; (2) using balanced chromosomal rearrangements to identify candidate genes for complex human diseases and; (3) our transcription factor microarrays for gene expression profiling across species. We have also developed cDNA technologies for very small tissue samples. We have applied these in the COGENE, the Stem Cell GAP, and our inner ear gene expression projects. Our second area of interest is focused upon the genetic circuitry of inner ear development and dysfunction. One project deals with identifying the pathways of gene expression that occur as birds regenerate their sensory epithelia. This is important because mammals cannot regenerate these cell types and this is a major cause of human deafness. Our other major inner ear project deals with gene expression profiling embryonic mouse inner ear development. We have derived these profiles from stages E9 through E15 at half day intervals. We are also profiling various mouse knockout strains that affect inner ear development. Our third area of interest is craniofacial genetics. We have derived the largest gene expression dataset yet of human craniofacial development (COGENE). We also have a collaborative project with Dr. Jeffrey Murray and others where we are employing bioinformatics and RNA interference approaches to detect and analyze important pathways in craniofacial development and disorders.
Selected Publications: Bashiardes S, Veile R, Helms C, et al. Direct genomic selection. Nat Methods 2005 2:63-69. Cai J, Ash D, Kotch LE, et al. Gene expression in pharyngeal arch 1 during human embryonic development. Hum Mol Genet 2005 14: 903-912. Hawkins RD, Lovett M. Developmental genetics of auditory hair cells. Hum Mol Genet 2004 13:R289-R296. Messina D, Glasscock J, Gish W, Lovett M. An ORFeome-based analysis of human transcription factor genes and the construction of a microarray to interrogate their expression. Genome Res 2004 14:2041-2047. Hawkins RD, Bashiardes S, Helms CA, et al. Gene expression differences in quiescent versus regenerating hair cells of avian sensory epithelia: Implications for human hearing and balance disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2003 12:1261-1272.

Last Updated: 06/26/2007