July
7, 2004 - Guojun Sheng has been appointed to head the Laboratory for Early Embryogenesis, beginning
in September 2004. The new laboratory will study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of embryonic
patterning and cell fate specification. Dr Sheng is interested in understanding how signaling molecules
can affect cellular behavior (morphology, migration and cell-cell interaction) during initial germ layer
patterning, and how they can act together with local molecular cues in specifying cell fates. His research
will focus on two aspects of early vertebrate development: the initial patterning of neural ectoderm
and mesoderm, and the differentiation of posterior mesodermal precursors into haematopoietic and angiogenic
cell lineages. The new laboratory will combine classic embryology, molecular manipulation and advanced
imaging techniques with chick as its main model organism, complemented by genetic analysis using mouse
models. Dr Sheng joins the CDB from the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at University
College London.
His recent publications include:
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