Current affiliations

• Position

  Research Associate/Project Coordinator

  Company

  Harvard University

  Further information

City:

None chosen

Hub:

Boston

My core interest is in understanding the molecular processes driving changes in cell state that are necessary for proper organ formation.

I have been learning about a particular cell population in the developing kidney called the “cap mesenchyme.” These cells are induced to form a nephron by interactions with the epithelial ureteric bud, the structure that gives rise to the branched collecting duct system of the kidney. Using transgenic animals, I have fate mapped these cells and modulated two signaling pathways (Notch and beta-catenin) in this population. This work has shown that these cells give rise specifically to nephron epithelia and therefore are the nephron progenitors. Furthermore, these nephron progenitors are readily altered to specific outcomes by modulating these two pathways (e.g. proximal fate bias with Notch gain-of-function). Current work is focused on understanding how this progenitor population is maintained during development and removing these cells for studies in culture.