Research Highlights
The Division of Developmental Biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation has expanded dramatically over the last few years. We now have a well-balanced faculty of 10 tenure-track assistant professors, 3 associate professors, and 12 full professors.
Division of Developmental Biology Faculty
Left to Right: (1st Row) A. Kuan, J. Heasman, R. Hegde, S. Degen, N. Brown, J. Wells, X. Lin, W. Scott, (2nd Row) C. Vorhees, M. Bates, J. Lessard, P. Devarajan, C. Wylie, K. Campbell, (3rd Row) M. Nakafuku, R. Lang, T. Bartman, S. Potter, D. Wiginton, (4th Row) J. Ma, J. Degen, A. Zorn
The aims of this expansion have been two-fold. The first aim is to establish a critical mass of scientists studying the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of development, using both invertebrate and vertebrate model systems. The second aim is to bring together basic scientists and clinical physician-scientists to study the normal development of the organs of the body, and the abnormal development that leads to congenital disorders of childhood.
To do this, we are establishing focus groups of faculty, in collaboration with the appropriate clinical divisions, to study individual organ systems. At this time, we have:
- a Visual Systems group, in collaboration with Pediatric Ophthalmology,
- a Developmental Neurobiology group, in collaboration with several clinical divisions, and
- an Endodermal Organ group, in collaboration with the Pediatric GI, Pulmonary Biology, and Pediatric Surgery divisions.
More of these focus groups are planned for the future. Focus groups have been established both by joint recruitment of faculty between Developmental Biology and clinical divisions, and by creating joint appointments for existing faculty. The Developmental Biology Division thus provides a matrix structure to bring together basic scientists and clinicians in different divisions to study the development of different organ systems and different congenital disorders, whilst maintaining communication and collaborations related to common general mechanisms and technologies.
Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation is an ideal place for this approach. It is one of the best pediatric hospitals in the world, and its clinician-scientists share space and equipment with the basic scientists, allowing the free flow of ideas and technologies.
