Research Interest

The focus of my lab is the regulation of stem cell growth, both from the perspective of the expansion of stem cells in the lab, and the regulated differentiation to functional tissues.  The overall goal of our research is to understand the regulation of human development.  The research can be divided into two main directions: the first involves improvements in the derivation and propagation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs); the second is the development of stem cell-based therapies for diabetes. 

For the first project, we have established procedures for the derivation of novel human embryonic stem cell lines that can be used as a model of normal human development and as potenital source of cells for transplantation therapies.  In addition, we are deriving new lines with specific genetic mutations that can be used both as in vitro models of disease processes, and systems for testing new methods to prevent and treat these disorders.

Toward the goals of the second project, we are isolating populations of cells containing candidates of pancreatic precursor cells by the introduction of regulatory and reporter genes into hESC.  The cells are then tested for insulin production to determine their ability to function in vitro and in vivo. We think that these studies will lead to both a more clear understanding of human pancreatic development, and the generation of cells for diabetes transplantation therapies.