Description

During embryonic development there are many processes that must take place to produce a viable and healthy fetus. Alterations in the cellular and/or molecular interactions within any particular organ can cause catastrophic defects leading to defective organogenesis and death of the embryo. Even slight malformations of the organs can cause developmental reprogramming and increase the likelihood of adult onset diseases. The use of experimental animals with genetic mutations that mimic many human conditions has lead to significant scientific advancement of these complex and multifaceted diseases. Furthermore, the utilization of organ culture systems has made for profound insights into the formation of organs. Over recent years, the technology related to molecular profiling and imaging of developing organs has dramatically improved, leading to the identification of subtle genetic and phenotypic alterations. This research topic will focus on the area of organ formation and modeling of human developmental diseases.