The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) has been identified as a functional component of hematopoietic microenvironments and other stem cell niches. However, it remains largely unknown how sensory neurons and their inputs direct hematopoiesis or immune responses. To address these questions at the cellular and molecular level, the Brückner Lab studies the role of the PNS as a microenvironment in hematopoiesis, using the hematopoietic pockets of the optically transparent Drosophila larva as a model system. The lab investigates constitutive and neuronal activity-dependent 'circuits' by which the PNS regulates hematopoiesis and immune responses.

The Chang Lab studies cell morphogenesis and cell division. We are interested in fundamental questions concerning spatial organization within a single cell: How do cellular components organize to form cells of a specific size and shape? How might cells sense their own shape and size? Topics include: cytokinesis, placement of the cell division plane, cell polarity, dynamics of microtubules and actin, biomechanics of cell morphogenesis, and sensing of cell shape and size. Many of our studies are on the simple rod-shaped fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The Floor Lab studies the mechanisms by which RNA impacts human gene expression in health and disease. RNA chaperones are a major focus of the lab, which remodel RNA structures and RNA-protein interactions. We use deep sequencing, molecular biology of purified proteins, and imaging approaches to define the in vitro and cellular mechanisms of RNA chaperones. Many DEAD-box RNA chaperones are genetically altered in cancers and other diseases. We study the molecular basis of such alterations using cancer cell lines and genetically engineered stem cell models, aiming to better understand human biology and nominate new therapeutic targets.

The Carol Gross Lab takes genetic, biochemical, and systems approaches to study regulatory mechanisms of E. coli stress responses, protein interactions in the bacterial transcription apparatus, and genome-wide control of gene expression.

The Kutys Lab spans disciplinary boundaries between cell biology and engineering to answer fundamental questions in tissue morphogenesis and mechanobiology. We develop and apply biomimetic human tissue models, along with cellular and molecular technologies, to identify mechanisms across biological scales that govern cell-tissue structure and function. We aim to use these discoveries to inform the selection of candidate therapies and the design of next gen preclinical models for human cancer and cardiovascular disease. Current research thrusts include the role of Notch1 in multicellular mechanobiology and tumor suppression, chemo-mechanical signaling at adherens junctions during morphogenesis, and microfluidic human organoid platforms for developmental modeling.

Michael McMaster is a developmental biologist and educator, and joined the UCSF faculty in 1994. Dr. McMaster is Director of the Biomedical Sciences stream with primary responsibility for the basic science curriculum in the first and second years of Dental School. He teaches gross anatomy, development, and neuroscience in the Dental, Medical and Graduate schools. Dr. McMaster has extensive expertise in medical education, particularly basic sciences as a foundation for clinical excellence. He is director of the School of Dentistry gross anatomy laboratory and has earned recognition for excellence in teaching. His research interests center on placental development, diseases of pregnancy and embryonic stem cell model systems for understanding the consequences of gestational exposures to environmental chemicals.

The primary focus of Dr. Sneddon’s research is the niche in pancreatic development and Type I Diabetes. Her research group employs the tools of stem cell biology, developmental biology, genomics, and tissue engineering. Dr. Sneddon’s laboratory studies the underlying biology of the cellular microenvironment, including the cellular diversity and lineage relationships of the non-epithelial compartment of the pancreas in the context of organogenesis, adult organ function, and disease. The hope is that a deeper understanding of the identity and biology of non-epithelial “niche” cell types within the pancreas will enable a more directed and efficient attempt at replacing lost cell and organ function via regenerative medicine.