The Niswander lab investigates mouse models of embryonic development to provide insights into fundamental developmental processes, major human birth defects and potential clinical therapies. Her studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms that control formation of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as lung, limb, and neuromuscular development. Current focus is on early brain formation and birth defects that arise when normal brain formation goes awry, like failure of neural tube closure or maintenance of neural progenitor cells, resulting in spina bifida and microcephaly and other neurological disorders including Rett syndrome. We use the mouse embryo and human induced pluripotent stem cells and organoids as models of human development. Our studies encompass genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors, live imaging and biochemical and molecular techniques to couple molecular insights to cell behaviors.
keywords
birth defects, neural tube defects, neural progenitors, human genetics, mouse development
