Associate Investigator

pat@stowers.org

Neural crest cells are a multipotent migratory cell population that gives rise to an astonishing array of tissues during vertebrate development. This includes cartilage, bones, connective tissue, sensory neurons, glia, smooth muscle and pigment cells to name a few.
Malformations and syndromes that arise due to defects in neural crest cell development are collectively called neurocristopathies.
Research in the Trainor laboratory centers on neural crest cell development and disease. We seek to understand the mechanisms that regulate neural crest cell formation, migration, survival and differentiation and apply this basic knowledge to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of birth defects as well as potentially develop therapeutic avenues for their prevention. We are particularly interested in craniofacial development and currently study neurocristopathies such as Treacher Collins syndrome, Holoprosencephaly and Syngnathia. However we are also investigating the roles of neural crest cells in the pathogenesis of Di George and Velocardiocfacial syndromes as well as Hirschsprung’s disease which affect the heart and gastrointestinal tract respectively.

Kimberly Inman

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

kei@stowers.org

Craniofacial morphogenesis requires proper migration of neural crest cells to specific locations within the developing embryo and subsequent differentiation into appropriate cell types. These processes are complex requiring multiple signaling events within and between the neural crest cells themselves, as well as the mesenchymal environment through which neural crest migrate. My current research uses mouse models to study extrinsic factors affecting both neural crest cell migration and differentiation. Additionally, I am mapping the lesion in and characterizing an ENU-induced mutant mouse line generated in our lab’s mutagenesis screen for new genes important to craniofacial development.

Annita Achilleos

Postdoctoral Research Associate

aac@stowers.org

Neural crest cells are born during vertebrate embryogenesis along the dorso-lateral margins of the closing neural folds. Upon induction signals that come from contact-mediated tissue interactions between the neural plate and the surface ectoderm, neural crest cells delaminate from the dorsal neuroepithelium by an epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition and start migrating extensively to several different locations in the embryo where they contribute to an astonishing array of different tissue types. I am interested in the morphological changes that take place prior to the onset of EMT and migration. Ultimately I am interested in characterizing the pattern of changes that happen during the transition of a neural stem cell to a neural crest cell.

Hiroshi Kurosaka

Postdoctoral Research Associate

hku@stowers.org

My research in craniofacial development is based on dynamic cranial neural crest movement which results into beautiful morphogenesis of the head. There are many diseases which affect craniofacial development, including holoprosencephaly. My recent research is focused on elucidating the etiology of holoprosencephaly using mice mutants. 

Kazushi Aoto

Postdoctoral Research Associate

kaa@stowers.org

My research is focused on investigating the role of hedgehog signaling during  development and disease.  Mutations in PATCHED1, the ligand of hedgehog, have been identified in patients with Gorlin syndrome, which is characterized by facial defects and tumours of the brain, skin and muscle. This syndrome is thought to be caused by an increase in cell survival and reduced cell death as a result of gain of function of hedgehog signaling.  I am working to identify key proteins that bind to Patched1 and to determine their localization and function in vitro and in vivo using mouse and chick embryos as model systems.

Jennifer Pace

Lab Manager

jlp@stowers.org

As lab manager, I keep everything organized and available so experiments run smoothly. In addition, I run experiments in a supportive role for the lab.

Raul Diaz

Ph.D. Student

red@stowers.org

I am interested in studying the development and evolution of the vertebrate cranium through molecular genetic tools and comparative morphology.

Aude Frisdal

Ph.D. Student

auf@stowers.org

I discovered developmental biology during my first year at Pierre et Marie Curie university in Paris. Specifically, I was captivated by the question of how a single cell can give rise to a complex organism, highly organized, with different cell types, tissues and organs.
Driven by this curiosity, I have chosen to do my PhD in the Trainor lab which investigates cranio-facial development. I am particularly interested to understand the mechanisms underlying the establishment of the vascular system during head formation in the mouse model.

Shachi Bhatt

Ph.D. Student

sbh@stowers.org

Developmental Biology has fascinated me since my high school days. Here in the Trainor lab, my goal is to understand the complex mechanisms of head formation, being especially interested in formation of the cranial sensory nervous system.

Kristin Watt

Ph.D. Student

kwa@stowers.org

My project involves using zebrafish as a model to study genes involved in cranialfacial development, specifically those related to Treacher-Collins syndrome.

Naomi Butler

Ph.D. Student

nbu@stowers.org

I am currently pursuing an MD/PhD degree through the University of Kansas Medical Center. Clinically, I am interested in developmental and gastrointestinal pathology, as well as Deaf Culture. In the Trainor Lab, I am able to pursue these topics using mutant mouse models.

Carolyn Randolph

Senior Administrative Assistant

cgr@stowers.org

I have been the senior administrative assistant in the Trainor Lab since May 2007. My responsibilities include the efficient operations of the lab on a daily basis.