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Developmental Biology
Research
The Section of Developmental Biology was a new initiative that originated in 2004 through support of The Children’s Hospital Research Institute and was significantly expanded in 2008 through a gift from the Gates Frontier Fund. Grants from both public (NIH) and private foundations (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Sander Program for Asthma Research) have helped to support the research programs of the faculty within the Section.
Research into birth defects and childhood diseases utilizes animal models that have been created in the Section to elucidate the molecular and cellular processes that regulate normal development. Sophisticated microscopy equipment that has been obtained by the Section provides new insight by allowing the visualization of dynamic developmental processes. Collaborations with other groups at TCH and the UCD, as well as groups around the nation, have enhanced our ability to pinpoint mutant genes, to generate new animal models, to identify the complex group of molecules that are made in specific cells, and to screen for chemicals of potential therapeutic importance.
Faculty Research Interests
Dr. Bruce Appel’s long-term interests are to identify genes that are targets for therapies to treat developmental, degenerative, and cancerous diseases of the nervous system. He uses zebrafish as a model system to understand the mechanisms that produce and maintain neural precursors and that direct the formation of distinct neurons and glia.
Dr. Lee Niswander’s work focuses on the development of the limb and lung and on closure of the neural tube. Her work revolves around creating mouse models to determine the genetic mutations that affect these developmental processes and to study the potential of new therapies.
Dr. Lori Sussel is recognized for her research into pancreas development and juvenile diabetes. She has created a number of mouse models to study the key genes that regulate pancreas development. These mice also provide important insight into the alterations that underlie the onset and progression of diabetes.
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