Molecular Signatures of Regenerating Blastema Cells -Analysis of gene expression patterns in regenerating newt limbs compared to human/murine stem cells to learn to equip induced pluripotent stem cells with regenerative capacities.
Final Report Abstract
The decision to work in the laboratory of Dr. Millán, who is Professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys (SBP), La Jolla, USA was funded on elaborating the initial project together and based on mutual working interests. That provided the chance for me to stay in the limb development and regeneration field, which has been my focus for years and where I wanted to apply my expertise and become more independent. Despite having the funding for the original project still pending at the starting point and therefore implementing my experience in other musculoskeletal / calcified tissue related projects, the fellowship provided a most valuable opportunity. The research work, while the PI repeatedly was seeking to get funding, immensely widened my scientific knowledge, broadened my skill set and, as well challenged myself to work around difficult aspects of scientific life. The campus of SBP in La Jolla provided extensive Shared Resource Facilities with ample access to both advanced instrumentation and expertise in a variety of technologies. Prof. Jose Luis Millán mentored me in the ongoing projects, and I actively engaged in multiple collaborations, e.g. with Prof. Bob Sah from UCSD, Brian Foster, at the NIH (now Ohio State University), scientists from Harvard, and multiple group leaders at SBP, e.g. Prof. Fred Levine and his lab. Even though the funding for the initial project was not granted in a timely manner, the challenging situation was managed fruitfully in terms of scientific output. The fellowship enabled me to become a more independent, experienced scientist. I was hired to lead my own in vivo research lab with focus on the musculoskeletal area, especially cartilage regeneration by the Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research.
Publications
- Pathophysiological role of vascular smooth muscle alkaline phosphatase in medial artery calcification. J Bone Miner Res. 2015 May; 30(5):824-36
Sheen CR, Kuss P, Narisawa S, Yadav MC, Nigro J, Wang W, Chhea TN, Sergienko EA, Kapoor K, Jackson MR, Hoylaerts MF, Pinkerton AB, O'Neill WC, Millán JL
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.2420) - PAR2 Regulates Regeneration, Transdifferentiation, and Death. Cell Death & Disese 7, page e2452 (2016)
R. Piran, S.-H. Lee, P. Kuss, E. Hao, R. Newlin, J.L. Millán, and F. Levine
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1038/cddis.2016.357) - Conditional Alpl Ablation Phenocopies Dental Defects of Hypophosphatasia. Journal of Dental Research, Jan 2017, Volume: 96 issue: 1, page(s): 81-91
B.L. Foster, P. Kuss, M. Yadav, T. Kolli, S. Narisawa, L. Lukashova, E. Cory, R.L. Sah, M.J. Somerman, J.L. Millán
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034516663633)
