Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey

My primary research goal is to use pluripotent stem cells as models of human development and disease, particularly of the nervous system. I am currently generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from various subject tissues, including blood. Once generated these iPSC are being directed to differentiate into neural lineages where we then use these cells to understand the basic signalling pathways guiding developmentMy secondary research goal is to understand the role the cell cycle plays in the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular how a pluripotent cells makes the transition from an undifferentiated, dividing cell to a differentiated, senescent cell.