This program (NIH P20RR18789) focuses on Stem and Progenitor Cell Biology. An overall goal is to advance an understanding of key molecular mechanisms that govern stem and progenitor cell renewal, lineage fate, and directed differentiation. Each project takes aim at therapeutic goals: Dr Oxburgh is working to characterize a novel renal progenitor cell pool with potential regenerative properties; Dr Wang has established an efficient 2-D system for the development of both hematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells from human ES cells; Dr Yoon is investigating cristins/r-spondins as novel wnt co-factors with therapeutic activities (e.g. bone development); Dr Mills has developed novel approaches to discover and characterize chromosomal fragility in leukemogenic contexts; and Dr Wu has discovered novel anti-apoptotic effects for a SLUG transcriptional repressor in hematopoietic stem cells. Our Center is further reinforced by strong External and Internal Advisory Steering Committees, and by established technical cores in Stem and Progenitor Cell Separation & Analysis; Histopathology; and Bioinformatics & Genomic.
COBRE
faculty:
Don
Wojchowski (Director)
Leif Oxburgh
Jeong
Yoon
Zack
Wang
Kevin Mills
Wen-Shu Wu
INTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Kenneth Ault, VP Research, MMC
Robert Friesel, Sci Director, MMCRI
Clifford Rosen, Clinical Res Director, MMC/RI Jonathan Himmelfarb
Barbara Knowles, The Jackson Laboratory
Lucy Liaw
Volkhard Lindner
Igor Prudovsky
Joseph Verdi
Peter Brooks
EXTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Hal Broxmeyer, Walther Oncology Center, Indiana Univ. School of Medicine
Peter Besmer, Sloan-Kettering Institute
Thomas Gridley, The Jackson Laboratory
Gerald Spangrude, Univ. Utah Sch of Med Nancy Speck, Norris Cotton Cancer Ctr, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Ctr
David Williams, Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston
CURRENT AWARDS:
Don Wojchowski was: 1/ an invited reviewer for 2 NIH Hematopoiesis Study Section, Special Emphasis panels (3/10/08 and week of 5/19/08). 2/ Invited to serve on the Editorial Board of “Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.
Leif Oxburgh was awarded an R01 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1R01DK078161, “Defining the Progenitor Cell Niche of the Developing Kidney” (2/1/08 – 11/30/12).
Zack Wang received a Junior Faculty Scholar Award from the American Society of Hematology, “EphB4 Regulation of Hematopoietic and Endothelial Progenitor Cell Fate” (7/1/08-6/30/11).
Kevin Mills was awarded and R01 from the National Cancer Institute, R01CA115665, “Molecular Mechanisms of Lymphomagenesis” (8/1/06-7/30/10) (note that this award was not reported on our 2007 APR).
Wen-shu Wu was: 1/ awarded a K01 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1K01DK078180, “Role of Slug in Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells” (9/10/07-7/31/10). 2/ awarded an American Cancer Society Institutional Grant (4/10/08-4/9/09).
