Overview
It is estimated that 3-4% of babies born in this country have major organ defects caused by mistakes in the process of embryonic development (Table 1). Scientists in the Division of Developmental Biology study the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of development with the aim of uncovering the bases of human birth defects so that they can be prevented or corrected. Research in the division also focuses on the cause and possible treatment of other childhood diseases including cancer, juvenile type diabetes, autism, short gut syndrome and muscular dystrophy.
The Division fosters collaborative research between clinical and basic scientists to translate new knowledge into novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the care of children.
The division of Developmental Biology is a center for basic research at the Children's Hospital and utilizes different model systems including the mouse, fruit fly, frog, chicken and zebrafish to investigate basic questions in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. Many different technologies are used including molecular genetics, genomics, proteomics, structural analysis, experimental embryology, cell culture, high-resolution microscopic imaging and biochemistry.
The division is also a center for training in basic science to clinical faculty and fellows, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduates. The division is the administrative home for the University of Cincinnati Molecular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program. In addition, faculty in the division teach in the MD/PhD program, as well as the Neuroscience and Cell Biology graduate programs.
