Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Research Area: Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology

After entering the Medical College of Wisconsin through the Interdisciplinary Program in 2006, I joined the Sidjanin lab in the department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, & Anatomy based on their emphasis on genetics research in conjunction with basic molecular biology. Our lab focuses uses a reverse genetic approach to indentify and characterize genes responsible for various eye diseases and phenotypes utilizing animal models as well as human patients. My project specifically uses a murine model which has been clinically characterized as having microphthalmia/anophthalmia, optic nerve hypoplasia and open eyelid at birth as well as myocardial necrosis and a wavy coat. Genotypically, the mouse harbors a deletion in the gene encoding the iASPP protein which is involved in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis through its interactions with p53 and NF-kappaB. My work focuses on connecting the role of iASPP in the early developing mouse eye and how the loss of this protein may result in the observed phenotype. This work may provide insight into epithelial and mesenchymal cell migration in the developing eyelid as well as optic nerve hypoplasia which is commonly observed in human glaucoma.