Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, PhD
Professor and Head of the Department of Developmental Biology
- Email: solnical@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Inductive and morphogenetic processes that establish and shape germ layers during vertebrate embryogenesis, using zebrafish and embryonic stem cell models
Key words
Gastrulation, Vertebrate embryogenesis, Patterning, Cell movement, Cell signaling, Morphogenesis, Stem Cells
George P. Souroullas, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: george.souroullas@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Understand how epigenetic mechanisms and chromatin dynamics contribute towards the development of cancer.
Key words
Epigenetics, chromatin, cancer, mouse models, lymphoma, melanoma, EZH2, PRC2, H3K27me3
David H. Spencer, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: dspencer@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
My research program studies DNA methylation in cancer, with a specific emphasis on understanding the origin, evolution, and functional impact of cancer-associated DNA methylation changes and how these can be used as biomarkers of clinical outcomes.
Key words
epigenetics, methylation, gene regulation, cancer, leukemia, genomics
Stephen Stone, MD
Assistant Professor
- Email: sstone@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Research summary
Work in our lab focuses on the role of insulin resistance in human metabolic diseases. To accomplish this, we focus our efforts on patients with severe insulin resistance syndromes.
Key words
Insulin Resistance, Atypical Diabetes, Pediatric Endocrinology, FGF21, Fibroblast Growth factors
Amber Stratman, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: a.stratman@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
The Stratman lab is broadly interested in how blood vessels form and stabilize during development, and how changes in these processes affect tissue homeostasis and disease.
Key words
mechanobiology, vascular, endothelial cell, blood flow
Samuel John Taylor, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: samueljtaylor@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Small‑molecule strategies to reprogram leukemia cells and improve therapy response
Key words
Leukemia, Transcription factors, PU.1, Pharmacology, chemoprotection, hematopoiesis
Thorold Theunissen, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: t.theunissen@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Immunology
Research summary
Naive pluripotency, trophoblast development, and stem-cell-based embryo models
Key words
Tony Tsai, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: tonytsai@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
Systems-biology approach to study how cells build tissues with precise patterns and shapes in embryo development
Key words
Fumihiko Urano, MD, PhD
Samuel E. Schechter Professor
- Email: urano@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Dr. Urano's research program defines the mechanisms by which endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction causes beta cell and neuronal loss in Wolfram syndrome and related monogenic diabetes, and translates those findings into therapies — from clinical trials of ER-targeted drugs to gene editing and regenerative medicine.
Key words
Wolfram Syndrome, Diabetes, Vision Loss, Hearing Loss, Neurodegeneration, Gene-Editing Therapy, Genetics, Endoplasmic Reticulum, Mitochondria
Aki Ushiki, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: akiu@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Our lab investigates how non-coding genetic variation controls developmental programs and contributes to human disease and evolutionary change. We focus on congenital structural anomalies, pregnancy complications, and bat wing development, combining mouse genetics, embryo genome engineering, and functional genomics approaches, including in vivo MPRAs, to functionally dissect regulatory elements.
Key words
Enhancers, non-coding regulatory variation, developmental genetics, evolution, GWAS, limb development, placental biology, craniofacial development, functional genomics, MPRA