Kristin R. Melton, MD
Title
Neonatologist
Appointment
Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Phone
513-803-0022
Fax
513-636-7868
Bio
Craniofacial defects are an important cause of morbidity for children worldwide, with craniofacial defects making up one third of all congenital anomalies and occurring in association with over 100 different genetic syndromes. Cranial neural crest cells are multipotent, migratory cells that form most of the bone, cartilage, connective tissue and peripheral nervous system of the head and face. Craniofacial defects are largely attributed to abnormalities in the formation, migration or differentiation of the neural crest. The cranial neural crest is responsive to the tissues that surround it, however, so craniofacial defects may result from a primary defect in neural crest cells, or from a defect in the tissues that signal to neural crest.
Kristin Melton, MD, has an interest in studying the tissues that signal to the neural crest, such as the endothelium and cranial mesoderm, and the signaling pathways utilized by these tissues. Using embryo culture techniques, cell culture and transgenic mouse models, Dr. Melton is investigating the interaction between the endothelium and the neural crest. Microarray has also been used to identify a number of mesoderm-specific genes that may play key roles in craniofacial development.
Dr. Melton is a practicing neonatologist and attends at the RCNIC in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Her clinical interests include newborns with complex congenital anomalies and genetic defects, as well as a focus on family-centered care.
Credentials
Fellowship: Neonatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2001
Residency: Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, 1998
MD: University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, 1995
BA: English Literature and Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1991
Awards and Honors
- Reginald Tsang Fellowship Award for Excellence in Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 2000
- Daniel C. Darrow Award for Excellence in Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 1998
- Alpha Omega Alpha, 1994
Research
- Craniofacial malformations
- Somitogenesis
Publications, Most Recent
Gibb S, Zagorska A, Melton KR, Tenin G, Trainor PA, Maroto M, Dale K. Interfering with Wnt Signaling alters the Periodicity of the Segmentation Clock. Dev Biol 2009 (In press).
Nesslein LL, Melton KR, Ikegami M, Cheng-Lun N, Wert SE, Rice WR, Whitsett JA, Weaver TE. Partial SP-B deficiency perturbs lung function and causes airspace abnormalities. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2005;288(6): L1154-61.
Melton KR, Iulianella A, Trainor PA. Gene expression and regulation of hindbrain and spinal cord development. Frontiers in Bioscience 2004;9: 117-38.
Melton KR, Nesslein LL, Ikegami M, Tichelar JW, Clark JC, Whitsett JA, Weaver TE. SP-B deficiency causes respiratory failure in adult mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2003;285: L543-9.
Trainor PA, Melton KR, Manzanares M. Origins and plasticity of neural crest cells and their roles in jaw and craniofacial evolution. Int J Dev Biol 2003;47: 541-4.
Iulianella A, Melton KR, Trainor PA. Somitogenesis: breaking new boundaries. Neuron 2003;40:11-4.
Book Chapter
Kristin R. Melton and Gary Pettett. Chapter 30: Transport of the Ventilated Neonate.
In Assisted Ventilation of the Neonate, 5th edition. Edward Karotkin, M.D. and Jay Goldsmith,
M.D., eds. Elsevier. (In press)
Presentations, Most Recent
Melton KR, Leroux-Berger M, Trainor PA. Disruption of VEGFR2 in mice causes severe craniofacial defects and abnormalities in cranial neural crest. Presented at the Pediatric Academic Society/Society for Pediatric Research, May 2008, Honolulu, HI.
Melton KR, Trainor PA. Gadd45 gamma – Connecting the Cell Cycle and somitogenesis. Presented at the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research, October 2006; Indianapolis, IN.
Melton KR, Zueckert-Gaudenz K, Trainor PA. Gadd45 and somitogenesis. Presented at the Midwest Regional Developmental Biology Meeting, June 24-28, 2005; Chicago, IL.
Melton KR, Holtz A, Trainor PA. Gadd45 alpha – A connection between the cell cycle and segmentation clock in somitogenesis. Presented at the Midwest Regional Developmental Biology Meeting and Singer Symposium, June 2004; Kansas City, MO.
Melton KR, Holtz A, Trainor PA. Gadd45 alpha – A potential for the cell cycle in somitogenesis? Presented at the Santa Cruz Conference on Developmental Biology, August 2004; Santa Cruz, CA.
Melton KR, Trainor PA. Understanding the Cranial Mesoderm: The Role of the Endothelium. Presented at the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research, October 2004; St. Louis, MO.
Professional Organization Memberships
Special Interests
Related Areas
This person works in these other areas at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical
Center:
