Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Understanding how the extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to normal arterial development and how its disruptionleads to abnormal vascular development and disease

Key words
Vascular biology, extracellular matrix, elastin, aneurysms, hypertension

Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
The Han lab investigates microglia and brain macrophage phenotypes in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative contexts through the lens of epigenomics and transcriptomics. 

Key words
microglia, neurodevelopment, epigenetics, transcriptomics, neurodegeneration

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Molecular, cellular and circuit analysis of circadian rhythms in mammals

Key words
neurobiology, behavior, imaging, circadian rhythm, glia, brain cancer, potassium channels, neuropeptides, astrocytes, glioblastoma, cancer, developmental biology, computational modeling

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Cilia functions in islet cell crosstalk, beta cells in diabetes, live-cell microscopy

Key words
islet, primary cilia, imaging

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
Define cell hierarchies in kidney injury and repair and thereby identify the critical cell types in kidney repair and fibrosis

Key words
Stem cells, regenerative medicine, scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, spatial transcriptomics, fibrosis, gene editing, iPS cells

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Understanding the molecular mechanism of aging and longevity in mammals

Key words
aging, longevity, hypothalamus, metabolism, NAD biosynthesis, Sirt1, NAMPT, NAD World

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Our research program integrates protein engineering and systems neuroscience to address previously inaccessible questions about brain function, particularly in the area of social behavior.

Key words
Social Behavior, Protein engineering, Optics, Neural dynamics, Genetically encoded optical tools

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
We aim to understand neural basis controlling behaviors in females across the lifespan

Key words
neurobiology, behavior, hormone, plasticity, maturation, aging, optogenetics, calcium imaging, and circuit tracing

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Interactions between the nervous and genitourinary systems during development, molecular basis for heterogeneity in progenitors and their lineage commitments in the GU tract, injury and regeneration using animal models, mechanisms of malformations using organoids from iPSCs

Key words
cell fate, gene expression, genomics, disease models, growth factor signaling, kidney, bladder, innervation, stem cells, organogenesis, nervous system development, birth defects

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Cancer Biology

Research summary
I am interested in precursor conditions or metaplasias in the stomach and esophagus (i.e Barrett’s esophagus) as these lesions are key to understanding the formation of gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas.

Key words
Intestinal metaplasia, gastroesophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, GI development, Organoids