The control of chromosome division during female meiosis. Mammalian eggs are stored life-long and finally mature in the hours before ovulation. This project examines how the chromosomes in the egg are separated properly so as to produce a mature egg capable of being fertilized by a sperm. Often in eggs chromosome division is imprecisely executed, and this project will help us understand why this occurs.
Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will gene ....Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will generate basic scientific knowledge and new intellectual property that will afford new opportunities for research and development. The outcomes of this project will help to devise strategies to treat diseases such as autoimmunity, cancer and metabolic syndrome, and will thus benefit veterinary and human health.Read moreRead less
Deciphering the cellular functions of caveolae that govern lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vessels play crucial roles in tissue fluid homeostasis, immunity, and fatty acid transport. Despite our recent understanding of genetic pathways that modulate lymphatic cell fate specification, how cellular changes mediate morphogenesis of the lymphatic tree remains to be elucidated. This study will combine cell biology and developmental genetics approaches using mouse and zebrafish transgenic li ....Deciphering the cellular functions of caveolae that govern lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vessels play crucial roles in tissue fluid homeostasis, immunity, and fatty acid transport. Despite our recent understanding of genetic pathways that modulate lymphatic cell fate specification, how cellular changes mediate morphogenesis of the lymphatic tree remains to be elucidated. This study will combine cell biology and developmental genetics approaches using mouse and zebrafish transgenic lines that label lymphatic endothelial cells to investigate the role of caveolae proteins in the construction of the lymphatic vascular network. This project aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the processes that govern vascular system assembly and will broaden basic knowledge of organ morphogenesis. Read moreRead less