The Developmental and Regenerative Biology (DRB) Thematic Research Program covers three specific, but complimentary, research areas listed below. Members are interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how embryos, tissues and stem cells are formed, develop, function and degenerate, and also how factors such as signalling molecules, hormones, growth factors and cytokines control these important processes. Research in these areas will help how we understand what is needed to recreate tissue and organs, including new drugs that could be used in regenerative medicine.
Development and diseases
- Embryonic and fetal development and reproductive tract environment in health and diseases including prematurity, Hirschprung’s disease, neural crest defects, cardiac diseases and diabetic pregnancies.
- Development and regeneration of peripheral nerves, craniofacial development, deafness and eye diseases.
- Genetic and molecular basis of skeletal disorders
- Cell signaling in development and disease
Stem cells and tissue engineering
- Regulatory mechanisms of stem cell differentiation (microRNA, ion channels, long non-coding RNAs) and stem cell therapy in tissue regeneration.
- Generation, biological, genetic and genomic characterization, and clinical application of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).
- Application of iPS cells as disease models including neurological diseases and cancers and as tools for drug discoveries.
- Stem cell biology and cell-based therapies
- Stem cell-based tissue engineering, biomaterials, artificial intelligence, deep learning, label-free cell tracking, musculoskeletal regeneration, orthopaedic research, small molecules and 3D microphysiological tissue models for regenerative medicine.
- Molecular regulation of stem cells in aging and age-related diseases
Developmental genomics, genetics and epigenetics
- Genetics and genomics of organogenesis, and functional genomics, epigenetics and cell biology of the reproductive epithelia, developing germ cells, embryonic gonads and reproductive tumors.
- Inherited and congenital diseases and personalized medicine.
- Molecular mechanisms of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
- CRISPR and gene-editing technologies for gene and cell therapies to treat human diseases.
