At the frontier of stem cell biology, our team uses human pluripotent stem cells to model the peripheral nervous system and the adrenal gland. We aim to uncover the disease mechanisms underlying diseases that affect those tissues in human patients. From conditions like Familial Dysautonomia to diabetic peripheral neuropathy to adrenal gland insufficiency, our lab’s work focuses on diseases that have profound effects on neuronal and endocrine function. The undergraduates of STEMCORE use quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) to measure genetic expression in stem cell-derived neuronal and adrenal gland cells, validating and identifying genetic markers to characterized those cell types and to guide novel therapeutics. Members of the STEMCORE RT-qPCR CORE facility gain hands-on experience in experimental design, molecular biology, and data analysis, all while contributing to cutting-edge research. Students of STEMCORE have frequent opportunities for integrative work, including collaborations with graduate-level projects and publications in scientific journals.
This team is able to offer a limited number of $1,000 research awards to students.
Team Leads: Nadja Zeltner (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)
