Porter Bioscience room B313A
My research leverages stem cells and induced cell fate change to study early development with a focus on epigenetics and post-transcriptional regulation.
During both development and homeostasis, cellular differentiation generates diverse cell types without altering genomic content. These cell fate transitions are orchestrated by rapid and precise regulation of gene expression patterns. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that define and ultimately restrict cell fate has important implications for regenerative medicine, cancer research, and developmental biology. To meet this need, our research applies a variety of systems to manipulate cell identity, including reprogramming, directed differentiation, transdifferentiation, and mouse models. We use molecular biology, proteomics, and genomic techniques to explore these systems and develop innovative approaches, with the ultimate goal of clarifying the mechanisms that control cell fate.