Our laboratory studies the biological function of the GFL family of neurotrophic factors (GDNF, neurturin, persephin and artemin) that constitute the ligands for the Ret tyrosine kinase receptor, which is mutated in multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes as well as thyroid cancers. We are characterizing mouse models lacking components of this ligand-receptor family, and we are investigating the downstream signaling events mediated by Ret activation. We are also studying the role of several genes, including Egr1, Nab2, a homeodomain protein Nkx3.1 and the tumor suppressor PTEN, in the development and progression of prostate cancer. We are characterizing mouse models of prostate cancer that we have developed and are using microarray screens and other functional genomics techniques to identify additional gene products that play a role in this disease.
Peter Wang passed his qualifying exam on June 13, marking a major checkpoint in his graduate studies. Congratulations, Peter!
Jeff Milbrandt recently had a paper published in PNAS, titled: “mTORC1 promotes proliferation of immature Schwann cells and myelin growth of differentiated Schwann cells.” Dr. Bogdan Beirowski, principal investigator at the Hunter James Kelly Research Institute at the State University of New York, is lead author on the paper. Keit Men Wong, a Ph.D. student at the […]
Amber Hackett recently joined the lab as a postdoctoral fellow. Previously, Amber received her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Miami. Her thesis project focused on glial scar formation and remyelination after spinal cord injury. Amber joined the Milbrandt lab in 2016.
Kow Essuman is the lead author of a paper recently published in Neuron, titled: “The SARM1 Toll/Interleukin-1 Receptor Domain Possesses Intrinsic NAD+ Cleavage Activity that Promotes Pathological Axonal Degeneration.” Daniel Summers, Yo Sasaki, Xianrong Mao, Dr. Jeff Milbrandt and Dr. Aaron DiAntonio are also authors of the paper. Read the study abstract here.
Kow Essuman was admitted to the Medical Science Training Program (MSTP), a combined MD/PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis. Kow began his studies in the MD program at Washington University in 2012, and gained admission to the MSTP program in February 2017. He is currently defining molecular pathways that underlie the axon self-destruction program in […]