Developmental Biology | Research Interests

Name	Email	PhD Program
Cho, Rae WEBSITE EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST Cell Biology, Chemical Biology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Systems Biology	We study proteases that induce rapid changes in cell morphology, behavior, and identity. We are particularly interested in ones that play a role in myotube formation, muscular dystrophies, rhabdomyosarcoma, and cachexia. Our model systems include C2C12 cells, primary myoblasts, patient-derived iPSCs, and zebrafish. In addition to standard cell biology approaches, we make use of chemical biology and advanced microscopy techniques. Ultimately, we seek to identify a combination of protease inhibitors/activators that can cure musculoskeletal diseases.
Chen, Jiakun WEBSITE EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Biology, Cell Biology & Physiology, Neuroscience RESEARCH INTEREST Brain Development, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Model Organisms, Neurobiology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders	The goal of our research is to understand how astrocytes develop and how they interact with neural elements during nervous system formation, function, and maintenance. Our lab uses fruit fly Drosophila and zebrafish Danio rerio to explore fundamental aspects of astrocyte biology. We leverage the powerful genetics and unparalleled molecular toolsets in flies to uncover gene function, and we exploit the advanced live-imaging techniques in zebrafish to study astrocyte-neuron interactions in vivo.
Azizoglu, Berfin WEBSITE EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST Cardiovascular Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Disease, Neurobiology, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells	Our lab studies body-wide control of organ growth and regeneration. The mammalian body is reticulated by blood vessels and neurons. How these networks communicate with organ cells to orchestrate local and body-wide decisions is obscure. We study this question with a focus on the mouse liver, the uniquely regenerative visceral organ. Current projects in the lab include 1-researching the role of a novel vascular progenitor network in liver regeneration, 2-determining the mechanisms of injury perception by liver innervation, and 3-in vitro assembly of reticulated, responsive liver tissue.
Vetreno, Ryan EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Neuroscience, Pharmacology RESEARCH INTEREST Addiction/Alcohol Research, Aging/Alzheimer's, Behavior, Biochemistry, Brain Development, Developmental Biology, Disease, Epigenetics & Chromatin Biology, Immunology, Microbiome, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Neurobiology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neuropharmacology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Regenerative Medicine	My research interests involve investigation of proinflammatory neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms in animal models of developmental neurobiology and neurodegeneration, including (1) alcohol pharmacology, (2) alcohol responsivity and tolerance, (3) adolescent neurodevelopment, (4) cholinergic system and neurocircuitry, (5) microglial function, and (6) Alzheimer’s disease. A major focus of the laboratory is elucidation of neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms underlying adolescent binge alcohol-induced disruption of basal forebrain cholinergic neurocircuitry in adulthood. A second major focus of the laboratory is investigation of lasting adolescent binge drinking-induced neuroimmune priming as a novel etiological factor contributing to the onset and progression of basal forebrain neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease. Our laboratory combines ex vivo and in vivo rodent models of alcohol abuse and Alzheimer’s disease with innovative molecular techniques.
Gringeri, Abby EMAIL	PHD PROGRAM RESEARCH INTEREST Biochemistry, Biomaterials, Developmental Biology	“I am generally interested in developing biomaterials, particularly in the context of tissue engineering. This includes hydrogel tissue scaffolds, microfluidic devices, etc. I am also interested in the chemistry of polymeric materials used for these applications.”
Holmes, Katie EMAIL	PHD PROGRAM RESEARCH INTEREST Cell Biology, Developmental Biology	“I am interested in exploring the intersection between cell and developmental biology. I’m particularly interested in studying the morphological changes which specialized cells undergo during development and how a cell’s morphology contributes to it’s specialized function within a tissue.”
Chlebowski, Mady EMAIL	PHD PROGRAM RESEARCH INTEREST Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology	“I am interested in research questions at the intersection between cell and developmental biology; specifically, understanding how cells get to the right place at the right time, and make the right shapes to form complex structures and systems. I am particularly interested in answering these questions within neurons, but also find other tissues extremely exciting. “
Moore, Makala EMAIL	PHD PROGRAM RESEARCH INTEREST Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Translational Medicine	“I am very interested in all aspects of the microbiome: microbial ecology and the establishment of microbial niches within a complex system (why are these microbes where they are?), the functionality of the microbiome in terms of metabolites (what are these microbes doing here?), the interaction between the microbiome and the immune system (how is the microbiome established and maintained?), and how the microbiome influences health and disease (how does the microbiome interact with other systems and/or respond to insults/exposures?)”
Edwards, Whitney EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST Cardiovascular Biology, Cardiovascular Disease, Cell Biology, Cell Signaling, Developmental Biology, Developmental Disorders, Disease, Genetic Basis of Disease, Metabolism, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease	Our lab aims to identify the fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying heart development and congenital heart disease. Our multifaceted approach includes primary cardiac cell culture, genetic mouse models, biochemical/molecular studies, and transcriptomics. Additionally, we employ proteomics-based methods to investigate 1) protein expression dynamics, 2) protein interaction networks, and 3) post-translational modifications (PTMs) in heart development. Current research projects focus on investigating the function of two essential PTMs in cardiogenesis: protein prenylation and palmitoylation.
Chen, Gang WEBSITE EMAIL PUBLICATIONS	PHD PROGRAM Cell Biology & Physiology RESEARCH INTEREST Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Pulmonary Research, Regenerative Medicine, Respiratory Physiology & Infections, Signal Transduction, Stem Cells	We use cutting edge technology to study pathogenesis of human pulmonary diseases including cystic fibrosis, Job’s syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by both human specimens, mouse genetic models, with a goal of finding the therapies. Recently, we developed a serial of lung epithelial-lineage tracing systems, providing the powerful tools for identify mechanisms of lung disease involved in post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection, also known as “long COVID”, in collaboration with Dr. Ralph Baric’s Lab at UNC-CH.

Research Interest: Developmental Biology