Research Interests
A major goal of the research in my lab is define the genetic pathways that regulate fetal thymus development in mice.  Normal thymus development is necessary for the production of normal T cells - the key components of cellular adaptive immunity in mammals.  We are focused on defining the pathways that regulate the differentiation of thymic epithelial cells (TECs) from the pharyngeal endoderm.  TECs provide the  microenvironment that is required for normal T cell production from lymphoid progenitor cells.  Although TECs play a critical role in normal T cell production there is relatively little known about their normal development.  To address this gap in knowledge my lab has recently identified several candidate transcription factors that are involved in TEC differentiation and genetic studies of these factors in mice are underway.  The genes we are identifying are candidates for loci involved in causing T cell immunodeficiencies or dysfunction.  They will also be important for future studies of thymus aging and regeneration.

I also have a strong interest in developing new genetic research tools that are based on site-specific recombination.  Site-specific recombinases are used to generate tissue specific genetic modifications in mice and other systems.  I am focused on developing new approaches for tissue or cell type restricted activation of site-specific recombinases in developing and adult mice as well as in cultured stem cells.