Current research
Our research is highly diverse and includes topics ranging from embryogenesis, cell reprogramming and organogenesis to aging and stem cell engineering.
Our ongoing and future work will focus on new and emerging areas of developmental biology, such as epigenetics and genomics.
Model systems
We house one of the largest zebrafish facilities in the world. Along with zebrafish (D. rerio), we study several other model systems, including the fruit fly (D. melanogaster), nematode (C. elegans) and mouse (M. musculus), as well as tissue culture systems and embryonic stem cells.
Upcoming events
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11 Feb
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18 Feb
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19 Feb
Latest news
Contratulations to Dr. Dave Ornitz!
Dave Ornitz, MD, PhD, Alumni Endowed Professor in Developmental Biology, has received the Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award from the American Association for Anatomy. This is their highest scientific honor that recognizes “unique and meritorious contributions to and achievements in anatomical sciences by a distinguished AAA member.”
Congratulations to Dr. Mayssa Mokalled!
Mayssa Mokalled, PhD, Associate Professor of Developmental Biology, has been named as a recipient of a 2026 Dean’s Impact Award! The 2026 Dean’s Impact Awards recognize faculty who demonstrate focused excellence through sustained commitment to their professional calling.
Thor Theunissen’s New Publication
Congratulations to Dr. Theunissen’s Lab on their recent publication! Exiting the ground state: the broad spectrum of cell fates accessible from naïve human pluripotent stem cells Park, K., Yin, R., and T.W. Theunissen (2026). Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 83, 23.