| LAST NAME |
FIRST NAME |
TITLE |
DEPARTMENT |
BIO |
PHONE |
EMAIL |
MAIN INTERESTS |
SPECIFIC
INTERESTS |
TYPES OF STEM
CELLS |
MODEL ORGANISMS |
RELEVANT
DISEASES - GENERAL |
RELEVANT
DISEASES - SPECIFIC |
| Abeliovich |
Asa |
Associate Professor |
Pathology
Neurology |
His
research interests regard the development, function, and survival of midbrain
dopamine neurons -- the cells lost in Parkinson’s disease and implicated in
other disorders. With respect to the
development of dopamine neurons, the focus is on relatively late postmitotic
maturation events that generate a functional and integrated dopamine
neuron. As a simple model system, the
lab has focused on an murine and human ES cell-based model systems. They have identified transcription factors
and microRNAs that function in a network to regulate the maturation of
midbrain dopamine neurons. A potential
translational application of this work relates to cell-based therapies in
Parkinson’s. With respect to dopamine
neuron survival, the lab has studied the normal and pathological activities
of Parkinson’s disease-associated genes.
They have again taken advantage of ES cell-based model systems for
deriving murine and human cells with a midbrain dopamine neuron
phenotype. A goal is to use such cells genetically modified
ES stem cell-based assays to identify potential therapeutics that modify the
pathology in Parkinson’s disease models.
|
212-305-1150 |
aa900@columbia.edu |
Neuronal
development and maturation
Parkinson's disease
Disease models |
|
|
|
Neurodegenerative |
PD
Alzheimer's |
| Al-Awqati / Oliver |
Qais
/ Juan |
Professor |
Medicine |
Qais
Al-Awqati is the Robert F. Loeb Professor of Medicine and has worked on
epithelial differentiation for most of his career. His work on Stem Cells in
the kidney began whn in collaboration with Dr Juan Oliver they discovered the
presence of label retaining cells in the kidney papilla which respond to
kidney injury by migrating out of the papilla into the cortex where they can
be seen to replace epithelial cells in the kidney. |
212-305-3512 |
qa1@columbia.edu |
Stem
cells of adult organs
Self renewal migration and characteristics of the niche |
Role
of wnt pathway in maintaining stem cell function and the role of CXCR4 in
migration |
embryonic
Adult Kidney |
Mouse
Rat |
Ischemic
injury
Papillary diseases such as obstruction |
none |
| Appelbaum |
Paul
S. |
Elizabeth
K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law
Director, Division of Law, Ethics and Psychiatry |
Psychiatry |
My
research interests focus broadly on ethical and legal issues in medical
treatment and research. Particular foci have included informed consent
(assessing patients’ understanding and expectations, improving disclosure and
comprehension, assessing and addressing therapeutic misconception, evaluating
decisional capacity, assessing voluntariness of consent) and research ethics
(improving disclosures to subjects, use of placebos, risk/benefit ratios,
conflicts of interest, and other areas). A psychiatrist by training, I am
also an affiliate faculty member at Columbia Law School, where I teach
seminars in informed consent and mental health law. |
212-543-4184 |
psa21@columbia.edu |
Ethics |
Decision
making about involvement in reseearch and innovative treatment, informed
consent, decisional capacity, legal regulation and new technologies |
|
Humans |
|
|
| Arancio |
Ottavio |
|
Pathology |
|
|
oa1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bestor |
Timothy
H. |
Professor |
Genetics
and Development |
Our
interests are focused on the mechanisms that underlie non-Mendelian
inheritance and the roles of genomic methylation patterns in transposon
silencing and genomic imprinting. Stem
cells have very efficient systems that silence and methylate newly integrated
DNA, especially retroviral DNA. We are also interested in the abnormalities
of genomic methylation patterns that are seen breast cancer. We found that
stem cells have an inefficient decatenation checkpoint that causes them to
enter anaphase with entangled chromosomes, which leads to the high frequency
of chromosome aberrations that are common in embryonic stem cells. |
212-305-5331 |
thb12@columbia.edu |
Cancer
Gene therapy
Epigenetic effects in mammalian stem cells |
DNA
methylation and epigenetics in stem cells |
Mouse
and human ES cells |
Mouse
Human |
Cancer |
Breast
cancer |
| Bhattacharya |
Jahar |
|
Medicine |
|
|
jb39@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cairo |
Mitchell |
Professor |
Pediatrics
Medicine
Pathology |
Dr.
Mitchell S. Cairo is a Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Pathology and
Chief of the Division of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation. His
interests are in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for childhood malignant
and non-malignant diseases, plasticity of cord blood stem cells and expansion
and reengineering of cord blood immune cells. His laboratory is focused on
regenerative capacity of cord blood and placental stem cells and ex vivo and
genetic reengineering of cord blood stem and immune cells. |
212-3-5-8316 |
mc1310@columbia.edu |
Lineage
Specification
Cancer
Bioengineering
Clinical |
Cord
blood
Placental blood
Bone marrow
Peripheral blood stem cells |
|
Human
NOD/SCID xenografts |
Cancer
Hematology
Immunology
Cardiology
Neurology |
|
| Cannoll |
Peter |
Assistant
Professor |
Pathology
Neuropathology |
Dr.
Canoll is a practicing neuropathologist and brain tumor researcher. His lab
studies the relationship between adult neural/glial progenitors and gliomas.
He and his collaborators have shown that human glioblastomas contain distinct
populations of progenitor-like and stem-like cells. They are using xenograft
models to characterize the tumorigenic potential of these different
populations and to test the effects of targeted therapy. They have developed
a number of animal models that use retroviral delivery of growth factors
(PDGF) and cre mediated deletion of tumor suppressor genes (PTEN and P53) to
test the effects on the tumorigenic potential of adult neural progenitors and
are using these models to test effects of targeted therapy aimed at blocking PDGF
driven signaling pathways. They are
also using the human glioma xenografts and animal models to study the
cellular mechanisms of progenitor cell and glioma cell migration and
infiltration. |
212-851-4632 |
pc561@columbia.edu |
Cancer
Disease models |
Tumorigenic
potential of adult neural progenitors/stem cells |
Adult
stem cells
progenitors |
Human
Mouse
Rat |
|
|
| Christiano |
Angela |
|
Dermatology |
Recent
advances in stem cell research have revealed that not only can adult cells
serve as stem cell repositories for the tissue they derive from, but they
exhibit a remarkable degree of plasticity and can differentiate into other
cell types when put in the right inductive environment. Dr. Christiano has
initiated a comprehensive program of cellular transplantation and
reprogramming that holds great promise toward advancing the feasibility of
successfully treating a broad spectrum of disorders of the skin, as well as
providing a source of easily-accessible multipotent adult stem cells for the
regeneration of other organs. Dr.
Christiano will define the potential for adult skin and hair follicle stem
cells to regenerate themselves, as well as to serve as a source of donor
cells for the generation of neurons, bone, cartilage and other cell types.
Her lab will exploit the inductive properties of adult hair follicle dermal
cells combined with 3D culture and tissue engineered scaffolds to induce new
hair follicles. The lab will use adult hair follicle epidermal stem cells and
hair follicle dermal stem cells to create a skin equivalent that leads to
scarless wound healing. Dr. Christiano's
lab will define conditions to direct the differentiation of adult hair
follicle dermal cells into other cell types, such as neuron, bone, cartilage
or bone marrow. Finally, the lab will use adult hair follicle dermal
cells to induce other epithelial tissues (such as cornea or amnion) to become
skin with hair follicles. It is anticipated that her work will significantly
advance the knowledge base in the field of regenerative medicine as it
applies to the skin as both a donor source and recipient of reprogrammable
adult stem cells. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chung |
Wendy |
Assistant
Professor
Director of Clinical Genetics |
Pediatrics
Medicine |
|
212-851-5313 |
wkc15@columbia.edu |
Clinical |
|
|
|
Human
genetic diseases |
Preimplantation
genetic diagnosis |
| Cleveland |
William |
|
Medicine
- St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center |
|
|
wlc1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Clynes |
Raphael |
Assistant
Professor |
Medicine
Microbiology |
STAT3
is a transcription factor known to contribute to cytokine receptor signaling
and regulation of cell growth and differentiation. In particular STAT3 is
activated and contributes to self-renewal of embryonic and hematopoietic stem
cells (HSCs). Together with collaborators at MSKCC, we have recently
developed a novel mouse model in which STAT3 can be inducibly turned on and
off in a manner restricted to the hematopoietic lineage, permitting genetic
analysis of its requirement and sufficiency for HSC maintenance and renewal.
To date we have shown that induction of STAT3 activity results in a
>10-fold expansion of long-lived HSCs at steady-state, due to increased
HSC self renewal. This system will enable identification of STAT3 target
genes critical for HSC maintenance. Further, using the inducible STAT3 ON/OFF
genetic system in leukemic cancer models we are poised to address the
oncogenic of STAT3 in tumor stem cells. |
212-305-5289 |
rc645@columbia.edu |
Inflammation
Cancer |
|
Hematopoietic
Breast epithelial cells |
Mouse |
Cancer |
AML
CML
ALL
CLL
Breast cancer |
| Colovai |
Adriana |
|
Pathology |
|
|
aic4@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cornish |
Virginia |
|
Chemistry |
|
|
vc114@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dauer |
William |
|
Center
for Parkinson's Disease and Other Movement Disorders |
An
enigmatic feature of many genetic diseases is that mutations in widely
expressed genes cause tissue-specific illness. One example is DYT1 dystonia,
a neurodevelopmental disease caused by an in-frame deletion (∆E) in the
gene encoding torsinA. We discovered that neurons from both torsinA null
(Tor1a-/-) and homozygous disease mutant ‘‘knockin’’ mice (Tor1aDE/DE)
contain severely abnormal nuclear membranes, although non-neuronal cell types
appear normal. These membrane abnormalities develop in post-migratory
embryonic neurons and subsequently worsen with further neuronal maturation, a
finding evocative of the developmental dependence of DYT1 dystonia. These
observations demonstrate that neurons have a unique requirement for nuclear
envelope localized torsinA function.
To explore mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we isolated Tor1aDE/DE
embryonic stem (ES) cells and demonstrate that they develop NE blebs when
differentiated into neurons, but show no NE abnormality when differentiated into
myocytes. Thus, this in vitro model system appears to recapitulate the in
vivo Tor1a phenotype. We are currently using this ES-based system to identify
the features that make neurons uniquely susceptible to torsinA
loss-of-function. Such studies may reveal distinct features of the neuronal
nuclear envelope, and provide insight into previously unrecognized aspect of
normal neuronal function. In addition, human ES cells from DYT1 carriers are
available, and the study of those cells would be the logical extension of our
work. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Del Priore |
Lucian |
|
Ophthalmology |
Our
goal is to use stem cell transplantation to treat for age-related macular
degeneration and peripheral retinal degenerations, Retinal degenerations are
the leading cause of blindness in the world. We are inducing hESC to
differentiate into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or neural retinal cells
by seeding the hESC onto human Bruch’s membrane (BM) explants prior to
transplantation into animal models of human retinal degeneration. This is the
first time human BM will be used or this purpose. Simultaneously we are
initiating studies on isolation of tissue-specific stem cells from the eye,
and investigating the efficacy of transplanting tissue-specific and
differentiated hESC into animal models of retinal degenerations. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Doetsch |
Fiona |
|
Pathology |
Stem
cells persist in specialized niches in the adult mammalian brain where they
continuously generate large numbers of neurons that become functionally
integrated into neural circuits. We
have shown that the stem cells for in vivo adult neurogenesis are a subset of
astrocytes, glial cells classically associated with support functions in the
brain. We are using a variety of molecular, cellular and genetic approaches
to discover the regulation, lineage relationships, diversity and function of
stem cells and neuronal production in the adult mammalian brain. Uncovering
the biology of neural stem cells and their in vivo niche is key to
understanding brain repair and neural pathologies. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Feinmark |
Steven |
|
Pharmacology |
|
|
sjf1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ferrando |
Asa |
Assistant
Professor |
Institute
for Cancer Genetics |
I
joined the Institute of Cancer Genetics in January 2005 after completing my
post-doctoral training on the molecular basis of T-cell lymphoblastic
leukemia (T-ALL) in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Look at the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute. Following on our studies of gene expression signatures
associated with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Cancer Cell 1: 75-87,
2002; Blood 102: 262-268, 2003; Blood 103: 1909-1911, 2004; Lancet 363:
535-536, 2004) and our identification of mutations in the NOTCH1 in T-ALL
(Science 306: 269-271, 2004), my lab has been dissecting the molecular
circuits that control leukemic transformation downstream of NOTCH1 activation
in T-ALL cells. Thus, over the last
three years we have established: (i) the role of NOTCH1 as a direct regulator
of cell growth and metabolism (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 103: 18261-18266,
2006), (ii) a transcriptional
regulatory circuit controlling the MYC oncogene downstream of NOTCH1 in
T-cell transformation (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 103: 18261-18266, 2006); (iii)
the role of PTEN mutations and
consequent activation of the PI3K pathway as a major mechanism of leukemia
resistance to treatment with NOTCH inhibitors (Palomero Nat Med XXXXX2007);
(iv) a synergistic role of NOTCH1 inhibition and glucocorticoids in the
treatment of T-ALL; and (V) a new class of oncogenic mutations in NOTCH1 in
T-ALL with a unique mechanism of action (Blood 2008 in press). |
212-851-4611 |
af2196@columbia.edu |
Self
renewal
Lineage specification
Cancer |
|
Hematopoietic
stem cells |
Mouse
Human |
Cancer |
Leukemia |
| Firestein |
Stuart |
|
Biological
Sciences |
|
|
sjf24@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fischbach |
Ruth |
Professor |
Center
for Bioethics
Department of Psychiatry |
Dr.
Ruth Fischbach is Professor of Bioethics in the Department of Psychiatry
(P&S) and the Department of Sociomedical Sciences (MSPH). She directs the
Columbia University Center for Bioethics. Dr. Fischbach has had an enduring
interest in the burgeoning field of stem cell experimentation and is
frequently invited to offer presentations on the ethical implications of
human embryonic stem cell research. She chaired the committee that drew up
the University’s guidelines for stem cell research and serves as a member of
the University’s Stem Cell Oversight Committee. She also serves on the CUMC Ethics
Committee, CHONY Ethics Committee, and is an advisor to the CUMC IRB. Dr.
Fischbach is an active member of several national and regional committees
concerned with safeguarding the rights and welfare of participants of
research. |
212-305-8387 |
Rf416@columbia.edu |
Clinical
Ethics |
Human
experimentation
Clinical applications |
embryonic
hematopoietic
neural |
|
|
|
| Freytes |
Donald |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
donald.freytes@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goff |
Stephen |
|
Biochemistry |
Goff
is best known for the development of retroviruses as a genetic system. He has
used mutagenesis to define the functional domains of the viral protease,
reverse transcriptase, and integrase in the life cycle. His lab was also the
first to express enzymatically active reverse transcriptase in bacteria, and
to localize its two major enzymatic activities. Goff has been particularly
active in applying the yeast two-hybrid method to study interactions between
viral and cellular proteins and to identify novel host factors for virus
replication. His group has recently begun using somatic cell genetics to
directly identify new cellular components utilized early in retrovirus
infection. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goland |
Robin |
|
Medicine
- Endocrinology |
Dr.
Goland is a clinical investigator who studies diabetes. Studies done in
collaboration with investigators at Columbia University and Harvard
University focus on somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) and cell fusion with
human cells. The object of these experiments is to obtain embryonic stem cell
lines that carry a particular genetic background, specifically a genetic
combination that gives rise to diabetes.
Individuals with diabetes are be asked to donate a small skin
biopsy Fibroblasts derived from these
skin biopsies are grown in tissue culture and used as nuclear donors for NT
into oocytes and human embryonic cells. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goldman |
James |
Professor
Director |
Pathology
Division of Neuropathology |
Our
goal is to define time- and location-specific patterns of glial and neuronal
development and to understand the roles of environmental and
lineage-controlled factors in specifying cell fate. Using viral gene transfer, transgenic mice,
isolation of progenitors by FACS, and culture systems, we have been defining
the migration of precursor cells from germinal zones of the perinatal rodent
forebrain and cerebellum and the development of these precursors into neurons
and glia. We have been able to watch
precursor migration in real time in living slices and have determined a
number of ways to change migration patterns with pharmacological agents and
growth factors. Current studies include:
1. studying how astrocyte and oligodendrocyte precursors regulate
their proliferation; 2. studying how growth factors and transcription factors
regulate the decision of neural stem cells to differentiate into neurons or
glia; 3. understanding the nature of cycling precursor cells in the adult CNS
to understand their fates under normal and pathological situations. As a neuropathologist, I am particularly
interested in how these precursors respond in neurological diseases. For example, cycling precursors in adult
white matter differentiate into myelinating oligodendrocytes after
demyelination. We can also keep these
adult cells immature and proliferative in vivo by activating EGF or PDGF signaling pathways. Understanding control on adult glial
precursor proliferation is likely to help us understand the genesis of
gliomas. |
212-305-3554 |
jeg5@columbia.edu |
|
|
Neural |
Mouse
Rat
Human |
Neurodegenerative
Cancer
Demyelinating |
Multiple
sclerosis
Leukodystrophies
Gliomas |
| Grayson |
Warren |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
wg2138@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Grishok |
Alla |
Assistant
Professor |
Biochemistry
and Molecular Biophysics |
Dr
Alla Grishok is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biophysics. Her lab is using nematode C. elegans for studying how RNA interference is involved in regulation
of gene expression on the transcriptional level. The areas of investigation
include both mechanistic studies of chromatin-related RNAi factors as well as
genetic studies of RNAi mutants and their effects on cellular
differentiation, development and longevity. One of the projects in the lab is
focused on understanding how RNAi pathway genes cooperate with Rb in
repressing germ cell fates in somatic tissues. |
212-305-9893 |
ag2691@columbia.edu |
Lineage
specification
Cancer
Disease models
Bioinformatics |
RNAi
Chromatin modifications
Epigenetics |
|
C.elegans |
|
|
| Hasselgren |
Gunnar |
|
College
of Dental Medicine - Endodontics |
|
|
bgh1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hazelrigg |
Tulle |
|
Biological
Sciences |
|
|
tih1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Heicklen |
Alice |
|
Biological
Sciences |
|
|
ah2289@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hen |
Rene |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Henderson |
Christopher
E. |
Professor |
Pathology
Neurology
Neuroscience |
Chris
Henderson spent much of his career in France but moved in 2005 to take up a
position as Professor of Pathology, Neurology and Neuroscience at Columbia.
He is one of the co-directors of the Center for Motor Neuron Biology and
Disease (MNC), a new initiative in translational neuroscience involving 40
laboratories working on a range of topics related to the motor neuron
diseases ALS and SMA, from basic research on developmental mechanisms through
to clinical research. Henderson’s work is focused on motor neuron development
and pathology, and in particular on mechanisms of growth, survival and cell
death. His interest in therapeutic applications of his work led him to
co-found Trophos, a drug discovery biotech which currently has a drug in
clinical trials for ALS and SMA. His
interest in stem cell research derives from the possibility, developed at
Columbia, of using mouse and human ES cells to produce large quantities of
motor neurons representative of mouse models of disease or human
patients. The Henderson lab uses these
mostly as an in vitro tool
for studying disease mechanisms and for drug screening. |
|
|
Neuronal
development
Cell death
Disease models
High-throughput screening |
Motor
neuron development
Neurotrophic factors
Axonal guidance and regeneration
Transcriptional determination of neuronal diversity
ES cell-derived models of ALS and SMA |
Embryonic |
Mouse
Human |
Neurodegenerative
Trauma |
ALS
SMA
Spinal cord injury |
| Hobert |
Oliver |
Associate
Professor
HHMI Investigator |
Biochemistry
and Molecular Biophysics |
Dr.
Hobert is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics and
Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. One of the interests
in his lab are to elucidate the genetic mechanisms that control cell lineage
specification in the nervous system, using C.elegans as a model system. The stem cell-related perspective of these
sorts of studies are to identity molecules that may be able to program
specific cellular fates in vitro. |
212-305-0063 |
or38@columbia.edu |
Cell
lineage specification |
|
Neuronal |
C.
elegans |
PD |
|
| Hofer |
Myron |
|
Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychobiology |
|
|
mah6@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Huang |
Hayden |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
hh2351@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hung |
Clark |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
cth6@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ichise |
Masanori |
|
Radiology |
|
|
mi2193@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Itescu |
Silviu |
|
Medicine
- Cardiology |
My
research covers the off-the-shelf utility of allogeneic adult mesenchymal
progenitor cells (MPCs). These cells
have a low cost of goods, can be easily culture expanded under GMP
conditions, have regulatory controls for release and potency criteria
allowing for uniformity of product, are 1000 fold purer than other cell types
and can be used to treat unrelated patients without the need for
immunosupression. We have demonstrated
proof-of-principle safety and efficacy of these cells in a variety of
indications covering cardiovascular, eye disease, orthopedic and bone marrow
transplantation. Our focus is on
understanding the basic science mechanism for how these cells exert their
effects and how to harness their potential and translate the findings to
clinical practice. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jacobs |
Christopher |
Associate
Professor |
Biomedical
Engineering |
Dr.
Jacobs is a new recruit to DBME from Mechanical Engineering at Stanford. His is broadly interested in the molecular
mechanisms whereby cells sense and respond to changes in their mechanical
environment. His is specifically
interested in this question in the context of bone. He not only investigates how existing
osteoblasts and osteocytes are regulated by their mechanical environment, but
also how mechanics affects the proliferation and differentiation of bone cell
progenitors and marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.
His group has recently focused on structural molecules as potential sites
of molecular mechanosensing including the actin cytoskeleton and focal
adhesions. They also have shown that
the cell’s primary cilia act as mechanical sensors and as a center for the
integration of biophysical and biochemical stimuli. Recent preliminary data have been collected
addressing the role of primary cilia in the differentiation of mesenchymal
stem cells into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. Dr. Jacobs lab utilizes cell culture
approaches as well as tissue specific conditional knockouts in mice.
|
212
854 4460 |
crj2111@columbia.edu |
Bioengineering
Mechanobiology |
Cell Mechanics
Bone
Mechanosensing |
Mesenchymal |
Mouse |
Orthopaedic
disease |
Osteoporosis |
| Jessell |
Thomas |
|
Neuroscience |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Johnson |
Laura |
Associate
Professor |
Genetics
& Development |
Our
research goal is to understand how developing organs grow and ultimately
cease growth. We use the simple genetic model organism Drosophila, and
utilize strategies that allow manipulation of growth in living, growing
animals. Our studies attempt to define the organ-intrinsic growth regulatory
program in molecular terms.
Much of our work addresses how a cell’s growth status is communicated to
its neighbors during organ development. One process, cell competition, allows
cells to rapidly sense and respond to growth changes in their immediate
environment. Recent work from our lab indicates that cells in competition
also use mechanisms to cooperate with their neighbors, ensuring optimal organ
fitness. These processes provide plasticity to growing organs, and we are
addressing their importance in normal growth and during regeneration. |
212-305-1688 |
lj180@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
Fly |
Cancer
Neurodegenerative
Metabolic |
MD
ALS
Diabetes
Cancer (Numerous) |
| Ju |
Jingyue |
|
Chemical
Engineering |
|
|
dj222@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kalderon |
Daniel |
Professor |
Biological
Sciences |
PI
at Columbia (1988-): Isolated PKA mutants to study developmental functions,
including role in Hedgehog signaling.
Mechanism of Hedgehog signal transduction studied by molecular
developmental genetics in embryos and wing discs since about 1994 and
ongoing. Study of Hedgehog signaling
in ovaries led to finding of an essential regulatory role on ovarian somatic
stem cells (2001). Excess pathway activity leads to increase in stem cell
numbers, whereas loss of pathway activity reduces stem cell longevity. Now
studying regulation of these stem cells more generally, including the role of
other signaling pathways and by screens for genes with selective requirement
for maintenance of these stem cells. Would like to develop strategies for
examining expression profile and DNA occupancy by transcription factors in
these stem cells and to examine their cellular interactions more carefully. |
212-854-6469 |
ddk1@columbia.edu |
Self-renewal
Niche interactions |
Impact
of signaling pathways on stem cell behavior.
Functional differences between stem cells and their daughters (perhaps
including response to stress and necessity to continually re-enter cell
cycles or pass especially sensitive checkpoints). |
Source
of epithelial cells that envelop germline cells in ovaries |
Drosophila |
Certainly
gives insights about cancer. Current work on ROS and stress responses may
provide a strong link with neurodegeneration, especially Parkinson’s Disease |
|
| Kam |
Lance |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
lk2141@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kitajewski |
Jan |
|
Pathology
/ ICRC |
|
|
jkk9@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Klitzman |
Robert |
|
Psychiatry
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies |
|
|
rlk2@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Kottman |
Andreas |
|
Psychiatry |
|
|
ak139@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Landry |
Don |
|
Medicine
- Nephrology |
Donald
W. Landry, M.D., Ph.D., is the Interim Chair of Medicine and Director of the
Division of Experimental Therapeutics. He is the leading proponent of an
alternative method for the production of human embryonic stem cells that
relies on harvesting live, normal cells from embryos that by objective, peer
reviewed criteria have died of natural causes. By conducting natural history
studies on human embryos engendered for the purpose of reproduction, he is
precisely defining death in embryos based on arrested growth. Cells harvested
from dead embryos would be covered under the established ethics undergirding
essential organ donation from deceased donors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Laufer |
Edward |
|
Pathology |
|
|
elaufer@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lee |
Francis |
Associate
Professor
Vice Chair for Research |
Orthopaedic
Surgery |
Dr.
Lee is Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of
Orthopaedic Surgery. His research interest is connective tissue engineering
using mesenchymal stem cells. As an orthopaedic surgeon, there have been a
number of cases where bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and bone
graft substitutes were applied for the treatment of skeletal defects. Another
area of research is to develop a novel molecular adjuvant treatment for
sarcomas using mesenchymal stem cells and siRNAs. |
(212)
305-3293 |
fl127@columbia.edu |
Mesenchymal
stem cell
Osteoblasts
Tissue Engineering
Biomaterial Interface
Engineered mesenchymal stem cells
Sarcoma Treatment |
Mesenchymal
stem cells |
Human
Mouse |
Skeletal
Defect
Biomaterials and MSC interaction
Sarcoma treatment
|
|
|
| Leibel |
Rudolph |
|
Pediatrics
- Molecular Genetics |
Current
research activities include efforts to identify genes (and relevant allelic
variants) related to obesity and/or type 2 diabetes in mice and humans. The
lab has particular interest in the molecular physiology of the energy
homeostasis and glucose/insulin metabolism. The lab is expert in the use of
naturally occurring and transgenic rodent models to identify candidate
molecules, and in vetting these candidates in large numbers of human subjects
using high throughput methods (DHPLC, fluorescence-based SNP detection). The
lab shares responsibility with the Columbia Genome Center for the creation
and maintenance of the Columbia University microarray facility (CUMAP), and
has personnel expert in the relevant molecular and information science. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lu |
Helen |
Associate
Professor |
Biomedical
Engineering |
Dr.
Helen H. Lu received her academic training in Bioengineering from the
University of Pennsylvania, and joined the faculty at Columbia in the summer
of 2001. She is currently the
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the Director of the
Biomaterial and Interface Tissue Engineering Laboratory. She also holds a joint appointment at the
College of Dental Medicine. Our
research centers on understanding how the biological interface between
different types of connective tissues (e.g. bone and ligament or tendon) are
formed and maintained in the body, and more importantly, how to re-establish
these distinct tissue-to-tissue boundaries post injury. Our working hypothesis is that heterotypic
cellular communications play a significant role in the regeneration and
homeostasis of distinct skeletal tissue boundaries. Specifically, we have been charatcterizing
the structure-function relationship at the native soft tissue-bone interface,
as well as applying these insights to the design of tissue engineering-based
methods and technologies which can facilitate biological fixation and enable
the integration of orthopaedic soft tissue graft with bone. Additionally, we are investigating the role
of heterotypic cellular interactions in the mechanism regulating interface
maintenance as well as stem cell-mediated repair of these distinct
tissue-to-tissue boundaries.
|
212
854 4071 |
hl2052@columbia.edu |
Biomaterial-mediated
stem cell differentiation
Effects of heterotypic cellular interactions on stem cell
differentiation
Stem cell-based soft tissue engineering
Stemm cell-based dental and craniofacial tissue engineering |
Advanced
scaffold design for multi-tissue formation and integration
Stem cell-Biomaterial Interactions on polymer-composite scaffolds
Multi-scale co-culture models to evaluate the effects of cellular
interactions on stem cell differentiation
Growth factor delivery for controlling stem cell differentiation |
Adult
mesenchymal stem cells
hemotopoietic stem cells
stem cell lines |
Human
Bovine
Rabbit
Rat |
|
|
| Lu |
Jonathan |
|
|
|
|
luxxram@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mann |
Richard |
Professor |
Biochem.
& Mol Biophysics |
My
lab studies the development of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, with a
special focus on Hox genes and proximo-distal axis formation in the
appendages. Three projects in the lab are related to stem cell biology. In
the first, we are studying how cells switch from a multi-potential and
proliferative state to a committed and differentiated state during the
development of the Drosophila eye. Cell types at all stages of this
transition are displayed along the AP axis of the eye imaginal disc, which
gives rise to the adult eye. A particular focus is how two transcription
factors, encoded by the homothorax (hth) and teashirt (tsh) genes, maintain
cells in the immature, undifferentiated state.
A second project concerns how uncommitted cells of the embryonic leg
primordia give rise to committed cell types along the proximo-distal (PD)
axis of the adult leg. New reagents developed in the lab have recently
allowed us to revise the fate map of the embryonic leg primordia.
A third project, which is relatively new to the lab, is to identify neural
stem cells. We are characterizing both the normal stem cells (neuroblasts)
that give rise to the adult motor neurons in the leg, and also examining if
bona fide stem cells exist in the adult CNS of the fly. |
212-305-7731 |
rsm10@columbia.edu |
Lineage
specification
Self renewal |
|
Neural
Organ-specific |
Drosophila |
|
ALS
Cancer |
| Mao |
Jeremy |
Professor
Director |
Tissue
Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory
College of Dental Medicine |
|
212-305-4475 |
jmao@columbia.edu |
Self
renewal
Lineage specification
Disease models
Bioengineering |
Hematopoietic
stem cells
Mesenchymal stem cells
Tooth derived stem cells |
|
Mice
Minipigs
Rabbits
Rats |
Diabetes
Osteoarthritis
Soft tissue trauma
Breast cancer
Craniofacial defects |
|
| Marolt |
Darja |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
dm2453@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mason |
Carol |
|
Pathology
and Cell Biology |
We
have identified programs genes that are important for cell identity in the
developing retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. These genes direct retinal axon growth
through the optic chiasm, where retinal fibers redistribute to one or the
other side of the brain toward visual targets. This circuit is crucial for binocular
vision. Current experiments involve in utero gene delivery into the normal
and albino mouse retina to rescue defects in visual system circuitry. With
these studies, we aim to develop gene therapy and cell transplantation to
reduce visual defects in humans. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Matushansky |
Igor |
Assistant
Professor |
Medical
Oncology/Medicine |
The
overall goal of my research is to examine the relationship between
tumorigenesis and differentiation (i.e., the process by which stem/precursor
cells develop into specialized mature tissue). This is a critical
relationship central to understanding the origins of cancer cells. My
hypothesis is that malignant transformation of progenitor cells at different
stages of differentiation results in the various histological sub-types of a
specific malignancy and that recapitulation of normal differentiation pathways
in tumor cells may reprogram cells to reenter the differentiation program. To
address this, my efforts are focused on elucidating the relationships between
mesenchymal stem cells (both undifferentiated and differentiated) and
sarcomas. |
212
851 4556 |
im17@columbia.edu |
|
Sarcomas
Mechanisms controlling mesenchymal stem cell commitment to
differentiation
“differentiation therapy” for sarcomas
|
Mesenchymal stem cells |
Human
Mouse |
Sarcomas |
|
| McCabe |
Brian |
|
Physiology
and Cellular Biophysics |
|
|
bm2157@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mitsumoto |
Hiroshi |
|
Neurology |
Dr.
Hiroshi Mitsumoto is interested in research that involves patient care and
works to find the cause and treatment of ALS.
He is participating in a number of clinical trials in ALS and helping
his colleagues to lead major clinical trials funded by NIH. He is interested in genetic environmental
epidemiology, oxidative stress markers, and environmental stressors in
ALS. He has directed in the
comprehensive study of objective diagnostic markers for upper and lower motor
neuron dysfunction. He is interested
in exercise in patients with ALS, in terms of improving muscle strength and
ALS function, but at the same time, he is interested in the effects of cycle
exercise to experimentally generate oxidative stress in patients. He is also interested in improving patient
care. He is participating in the
nuclear transfer of ALS patient fibroblasts to fertilized human oocyte to
generate the patient’s ES cells. He
has also initiated skin-derived stem cells.
He has been in contact with Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw, Wadsworth NYS
Laboratory, to start a joint project in the brain-computer-interface (BCI)
field. He has been working with NYS
Senators and Assemblymen to develop an NYS ALS patient registry. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Morris |
Rebecca |
|
Dermatology |
Rebecca
J. Morris, Ph.D., is isolating the target cells in skin carcinogenesis with
the goal of understanding the regulation of adult stem cell number and
proliferative potential in normal and abnormal epidermis. Her laboratory has recently developed a
transgenic mouse model for visualizing the progeny of hair follicle stem
cells as they develop into skin tumors.
She is currently determining whether the hair follicle progeny become
tumor stem cells. Other studies in the
Morris laboratory are focused on the role of bone marrow derived stem cells
in the pathogenesis of skin cancer, and development of culture systems for
human hair follicle stem cells. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Morrison |
Barclay |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
bm2119@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Myers |
Michael |
|
Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychobiology |
|
|
mmm3@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ohlstein |
Benjamin |
Assistant
Professor |
Genetics
and Development |
Dr.
Ohlstein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and
Development. His lab identified multipotent stem cells in the intestines of
adult Drosophila midgets that are remarkably similar to those found in
vertebrates. He is using the Drosophila midgut as a model system to identify
genes required for intestinal stem cell specification, stem cell daughter
differentiation, and stem cell activity. Given the similarities between the
Drosophila and vertebrate intestinal stem cell, he expects his research to
provide novel insights into the cause of many disorders that affect the human
gastrointestinal tract. |
212-305-0558 |
bo2160@columbia.edu |
|
Intestinal
stem cell specification, reversion, and replacement.
Mechanisms of differentiation of enteroendocrine and enterocytes from
intestinal stem cells
|
Gastrointestinal |
Drosophila |
Gastrointestinal
cancer
Endocrine disorders |
|
| Owens |
David |
|
Dermatology |
|
|
do2112@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Papaioannou |
Virginia |
|
Genetics
and Development |
Virginia
Papaioannou, Ph.D., Professor of Genetics & Development.
The interest of my laboratory is in the genetic control of early mammalian
development, from the first cleavage of the fertilized zygote through
implantation, gastrulation, and early organogenesis. I make use of mouse
embryonic stem cells to produce mutations by genetic engineering. In addition, two projects in the lab relate
directly to stem cells. One is the
derivation of human stem cell lines from clinically dead human embryos
obtained from in-vitro fertilization centers.
The second is testing the potential of mouse embryo pancreatic stem
cell/precursors in the treatment of type 1 diabetes using a mouse model. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Perera |
Tarique |
|
Psychiatry |
|
|
tp119@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Raghavan |
Srikala |
|
Dental
Medicine |
|
|
sr2309@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reizis |
Boris |
|
Microbiology |
Stem
cells manifest a unique capacity to differentiate into various cell types
while maintaining their own number in an undifferentiated state. The unique
property of continuous self-renewal is shared among different stem cell
types, including pluripotent embryonic stem cells and adult tissue-specific
stem cells such as hematopoietic stem cells. We investigate the mechanisms
regulating stem cell self-renewal, including potential common mechanisms
shared by embryonic and adult stem cells, as well as by cancer stem
cells. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Robinson |
Richard |
|
Pharmacology |
|
|
rbr1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rosen |
Michael |
|
Pharmacology |
We
investigate stem cell therapies for cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial
regeneration and cancer therapy. For arrhythmias we have developed hMSC-based
pacemakers, to create a more physiologic outcome than electronic pacemakers.
For cardiac regeneration we have enhanced the ability of hMSCs to follow a
cardiac lineage, thereby recovering increased mechanical function. In cancer
research we have developed an hMSC-based siRNA delivery system to enhance
therapeutic targeting strategies. Our research incorporates hMSCs, cardiac
stem cells and most recently human embryonic stem cells as we seek the
optimal cell type for each therapeutic need. All studies incorporate use of
quantum dots as tracking agents. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rothstein |
Rodney |
Professor |
Genetics
and Development |
|
|
|
Asymmetric cell division |
lineage specification |
|
Yeast |
|
|
| Schwartz |
Joseph |
Director,
Associate Director
|
Hemotherapy
and Cellular Therapy
Transfusion Medicine Service |
Dr.
Schwartz is the director of the hematopoietic stem cell laboratory, and an
associate director in the Transfusion Medicine Service. He is an Assistant
professor of Clinical Pathology. Dr. Schwartz graduated from the school of
medicine at the Technion – Israel institute of technology, and completed his
residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology. He then
pursued further education in Transfusion Medicine which became his main
focus. His research includes introduction of new indication for
plasampheresis and expansion the use of cell therapy. That includes exploring
other types of cells apart from the hematopoietic stem cells (HPCs) as well
as using hematopoietic cells for non-hematological diseases. Other area of
research includes study the mechanism of platelet disorders especially
ITP. |
212-305-3749 |
js2745@columbia.edu |
lineage
markers
stability of HPCs
|
|
Hematopoietic
stem cell
Mesenchymal stem cell |
Human |
Hematological
malignancies
Solid tumor malignancies
Genetic blood diseases |
leukemia
lymphoma
multiple myeloma
neuroblastoma
germ-cell tumors
sickle cell disease
thalassemia |
| Shen |
Michael |
Professor |
Medicine
Genetics & Development |
Our
laboratory investigates the regulation of pattern formation and organogenesis
during vertebrate development, and the mechanisms by which these processes
are disrupted in cancer initiation and progression. In one area of focus, we
are investigating the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis as well as
analyses of signaling pathways that govern pre-gastrulation development. We
are also pursuing new projects on the molecular regulation of self-renewal
and differentiation of stem cell types derived from the peri-implantation
mouse embryo. In a second area of research, our lab is investigating the
molecular mechanisms of tissue organogenesis and their relationship to tumor
initiation and progression, through the generation and analysis of mouse models
of prostate cancer. In current studies, we are examining the role of prostate
epithelial progenitor cells in prostate organogenesis and regeneration, as
well as cancer initiation. |
(212)
851-4723 |
mshen@columbia.edu |
Lineage
specification
Self-renewal/niche
Cancer
Mouse models |
|
ES
cells
XEN cells (extraembryonic endoderm stem)
TS cells (trophoblast stem)
EpiSC cells (epiblast stem)
Prostate epithelial stem cells
Prostate cancer stem cells |
Mouse |
Prostate
Cancer |
|
| Sherman |
Warren |
Director
|
Cardiac
Cell-Based Endovascular Therapies |
Dr Sherman is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine. As a senior attending in the Center for
Interventional Vascular Therapies (CIVT) and Cardiovascular Research
Foundation (CRF), his background is in the clinical and translational
sciences. Dr Sherman and his
colleagues develop catheter-based techniques for applying biologics to the
heart, recently with the goal of identifying mechanisms for increasing
efficiency of stem cell retention.
These entail assessments that encompass both bench-top and large
animal investigations, the latter utilizing models of ischemic injury. Early work with autologous skeletal
myoblasts in systolic left ventricular dysfunction has led to the development
of clinical trials (Phase I-III) in patients with congestive heart
failure. In parallel and in
collaboration with other investigators, clinical investigations have expanded
to include novel protocols for acute and chronic myocardial injury. |
212
342 0886 |
ws2157@columbia.edu |
Myocardial
repair
Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis
Stem cell delivery techniques
|
Phase
I and II clinical trial design and conduct
Design and evaluation of catheters for biologics administration
Translational models for assessment of stem cell efficacy
|
Embryonic
Adult progenitors |
Human
Ovine
Porcine
Canine |
Cardiovascular
disease
Coronary disease
Heart failure
|
Acute
myocardial injury (ST-elevation myocardial infarction)
Chronic myocardial injury (post-infarction systolic left ventricular
dysfunction)
Chronic myocardial ischemia (refractory angina)
|
| Sia |
Samuel |
Assistant
Professor |
Biomedical
Engineering |
My
research focus is to use advanced techniques in microtechnology to: 1) study
and control the differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells under
well-controlled 3D microenvironments, and 2) engineer 3D tissues for
regenerative medicine. Our lab uses a
variety of engineering approaches (such as microfabrication and fluid
simulations), as well as biological approaches (molecular biology, protein
expression, cell biology, epifluorescence and confocal microscopy), for
high-resolution studies of stem cells. |
212-854-8725 |
ss2735@columbia.edu |
Self
renewal niche
Bioengineering |
Microreactors
Microfluidics |
Embryonic
(human and mouse)
Hematopoietic
Mesenchymal |
Mouse |
|
|
| Sloan |
Richard |
|
Psychiatry |
|
|
rps7@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Slotky |
Ronit |
|
Hemotherapy
and Cellular Therapy |
Dr.
Slotky supervises the hematopoietic stem cell laboratory at Columbia
University. The laboratory process and cryopreserves hematopoietic stem cells
and solid tissues for future autologous and allogeneic transplants. Graduated
from the department of biology at the Technion – Israel institute of
technology studying signal transduction of Fibroblast Growth Factors. She did
her post doctorate in the department of Microbiology at Columbia University
studying ABC transporters in E. Coli, and did her research on new drugs for L. pneumophilla and M. Tuberculosis as an Associate
researcher in the department of Physiology and Cellular Biophisics at
Columbia University. Her research has included identification and
characterization of protein interactions involved in various diseases. |
212-305-4446 |
ros9085@nyp.org |
lineage markers
stability of HPCs |
Hematopoietic
stem cell
Mesenchymal stem cell |
Hematopoietic
stem cell
Mesenchymal stem cell |
Human |
Hematological
malignancies
Solid tumor malignancies
Genetic blood diseases. |
leukemia
lymphoma
multiple myeloma
neuroblastoma
germ-cell tumors
sickle cell disease
thalassemia |
| Stockwell |
Brent |
|
Biological
Sciences |
|
|
stockwell@biology.columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sussel |
Lori |
Associate
Professor |
Genetics
and Development |
The
current research in my lab combines molecular biology, genetics and mouse
embryology to study the role of transcriptional regulatory factors in
specifying the development and differentiation of the pancreas during mouse
embryogenesis.The primary goal of this research is to understand the
transcriptional regulatory pathways in the pancreas that govern the formation
of functional islets from a common endocrine progenitor cell. In particular, we are interested in understanding
the molecular mechanisms underlying islet cell fate determination and
differentiation. It is our hope that the knowledge gained from these studies
will contribute to ongoing research efforts to generate surrogate islet cells
from alternative sources of cells, including stem cell populations for the
therapeutic treatment of Diabetes mellitus. In the future, we would like to
map the global epigenetic changes that occur in a pancreatic stem/progenitor
cell to influence its competence to
take on an islet cell fate. |
212-851-5115 |
lgs2@columbia.edu |
Lineage
specification |
islet cell
differentiation
progenitor/stem cells |
Embryonic
Somatic progenitor cells |
Mouse |
Metabolic |
Diabetes |
| Toran-Allerand |
C.
Dominique |
Professor |
Anatomy
and Cell Biology |
We
have identified in the postnatal and adult rodent brain a novel,
developmentally regulated estrogen receptor named ER-X whose specific ligand,
17alpha-estradiol, is synthesized
locally in the brain. We hypothesize that 17alpha-estradiol is the more
important estrogen for the formation of new neurons (neurogenesis) and the
mood-related behavioral responses attributed to estrogen and that the
elevated brain levels of 17alpha-estradiol may act as an endogenous antidepressant.
We are testing whether 17alpha-estradiol is comparable to, but more rapid in
its action than, the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac). This research will
lead to the development of novel, cell-based therapies for a broad range of
cognitive and mood-related disorders. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tsang |
Stephen |
Assistant
Professor |
Ophthalmology
Pathology |
Stephen
Tsang, MD, P&S 98’ and PhD. Columbia 96’ is an attending ophthalmologist
at New York Presbyterian Hospital and his research efforts are to find new
treatments for photoreceptor degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and
age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
the second most common forms of degenerative disease in the central
nervous system. Over 9 million Americans are affected with photoreceptor
degenerations, which have profound impact on quality of life Stem cell
transplantation has the potential to restore lost vision and provide
treatment for advanced stages of retinal degeneration even in cases of
significant photoreceptor loss. Our experimental approach involves the
culture of human retinal stem cells from the ciliary body in eye-bank globes,
and using those cultured cells to determine the combination of transcription
factors involved in regulating their proliferation and differentiation into
light-sensing neurons. |
212-342-1189 |
dr.stemcells@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tycko |
Benjamin |
|
Pathology |
|
|
bt12@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vallee |
Richard |
|
Pathology |
My
lab works on the microtubule motor protein, which is involved in diverse
cellular and subcellular activities.
During the past several years we have devoted our attention to
understanding the cellular and molecular basis for the human smooth brain
disease, lissencephaly. This disease
is caused by mutations in the LIS1 gene, the product of which regulates
cytoplasmic dynein and participates in the proliferation and migration of
neural precursor cells in the developing neocortex. In addition to extensive molecular analysis
of LIS1 and additional LIS1- and dynein-interacting proteins, NudE, NudEL,
and NudC, we are imaging the migration and proliferation of LIS1-deficient
cells in living brain. We are in the
process of working out the mechanism for the interkinetic nuclear
oscillations exhibited by neural progenitor cells and the radial,
glial-guided migration of their progeny.
We are pursuing evidence from these studies for a novel mechanism
controlling entry of the progenitors into mitosis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vunjak-Novakovic |
Gordana |
Professor
Director |
Biomedical
Engineering
Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering |
Dr
Vunjak-Novakovic is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and a co-director
of the NIH Tissue Engineering Resource Center. Her lab is working on
engineering of functional tissue grafts for application in regenerative
medicine, with focus on molecular and physical factors that mediate the
self-renewal, differentiation and functional 3D assembly of stem cells.
Engineered tissues are also utilized as models of disease, for drug screening
and the development of new therapeutic modalities. Advanced technologies
(scaffolds, bioreactors, imaging modalities) are integrated into biologically
inspired cell-instructive environments for controlled studies of human stem
cells. |
212-305-2304 |
gv2131@columbia.edu |
Bioengineering
Self-renewal and differentiation, niche, biophysical regulation of cell
behavior
3D models for stem cell research and translation into clinical applications |
Tissue
engineering
Cell-instructive environments (hydrogels, bioreactors)
Models of disease |
Human
mesenchymal
Human embryonic |
Human |
Cardiac
Vascular
Bone |
Heart
infarction
Diabetes
Vascular disease
Bone loss |
| Wan |
Leo |
|
Biomedical
Engineering |
|
|
qw2002@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wang |
Kai |
|
Pharmacology |
|
|
gw2203@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wang |
Timothy |
|
Medicine
- Digestive and Liver Diseases |
|
|
tcw21@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wichterle |
Hynek |
Assistant
Professor |
Pathology
Neurology
Neuroscience |
My
lab utilizes in vitro differentiation of embryonic stem cells as a proxy to
study development of mammalian nervous system. We have developed robust
protocols for directed differentiation of mouse ES cells into distinct
subsets of skeletal and autonomic motor neurons. ES cell-derived motor
neurons acquire appropriate electrophysiological properties and innervate
muscle targets upon transplantation into the developing neural tube. We are utilizing the in vitro system to
define genetic programs controlling conversion of pluripotent stem cells to
distinct subtypes of spinal motor neurons.
In addition we are developing ES cell-based models of motor neuron
diseases to study motor neuron survival, axon pathfinding and synapse
formation in normal and diseased cells to define pathologic processes
initiating motor neuron degeneration and to develop cell based system for
drug discovery. |
212
342 3929 |
hw350@columbia.edu |
Lineage
specification
Disease models |
Genetic
and epigenetic mechanisms controlling differentiation of embryonic stem cells
into defined subtypes of nerve cells
Modeling motor neuron diseases using embryonic stem cells |
Embryonic
stem cells
Neural stem cells |
Human
Mouse
Chick |
Neurodegenerative |
Amytrophic
lateral sclerosis
Spinal muscular atrophy |
| Yan |
Shi |
|
Surgery |
|
|
sdy1@columbia.edu |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Zou |
Yong-Rui |
|
Microbiology |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|