People

Nathan assists with maintaining our mouse colony and is working on analysis of neural crest lineages in the intestine and bladder.

Meredith is studying mesenteric autonomic neurons and their neurogenic potential.

Joe is analyzing effects of Sox10 on chromatin accessibility during enteric nervous system development

Thomas is investigating mechanisms of neuronal diversification in the pelvic ganglia.  

Ysabel helps with maintaining stocks and genotyping to keep us running efficiently.  She has most recently been working to visualize discrete neuron subtypes in the postnatal pelvic ganglia using immunohistochemistry and Hybridization Chain reaction.

Edom had assisted with maintaining our mouse colony and optimized antibodies for detection of transcription factors during ENS development.  She has moved on to graduate school at Baylor.  We miss you Edom!!

Helen developed vectors for in vitro and in vivo manipulation of genes in developing enteric neural progenitors.  She is a great molecular biologist and excelled at keeping things on track for us in the lab.  She is now off to medical school in New Jersey!  Miss ya Helen!

Justin has moved to postdoctoral work at the Stowers Research Institute. 

Kate was quantifying effects of mutations in the Type 3 Serotonin Receptor (Htr3a) on development and differentiation of pelvic ganglia neurons that innervate the bladder.  Kate has moved to the WashU MSTP - so proud of you!!

Aaron headed the ENSMap effort to derive a global gene expression atlas of human enteric ganglia.  He has now taken on the new role of Senior Bioinformaticist at FluidBio
 

Karen worked with our team and generated amazing images that show how neural progenitors colonize the lower urinary tract during development.  Karen retired from research in 2022.  We miss you Karen and hope those grand babies are keeping you busy!

Elaine completed her thesis work on the role of Htr3a in bladder innervation and function.  She is now working in a postdoctoral position with Adam Durbin at St. Jude's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. 

Jean-Marc has moved to Northwestern U in Chicago to be closer to family.  We miss you JMDK!!

Makenzie completed her undergrad honors thesis with us and has moved on to medical school at Duke University.  Way to go Makenzie!!

Melissa used mouse models during her Ph.D. studies to analyze lineage diversification in the enteric nervous system and determine how this relates to gastrointestinal dysmotility and variability in Hirschsprung patient phenotypes.  Melissa matched to Boston Children's Hospital for her residency training in Peds GI and is now in a Faculty position after completing her Fellowship.  Congrats Muss!!

Jenna worked with us for a short while before retiring from research to start her family.  She was using mouse models to map neuromodulatory cells in relation to developing innervation in the lower urinary tract using a variety of flourescent transgenes and Cre lineage drivers. 

Anoop graduated from Vanderbilt with highest honors and is now in medical school at Vanderbilt.  Congratulations Anoop!!  We miss you - stop by any time. 

Meena had been characterizing novel alleles taht disrupt development and function of the enteric nervous system.  Meena entered medical school at Saint George’s University School of Medicine. 

Jessica left our group to attend Maharry medical school and is now in Pediatric residency at Stanford!  Way to go JD!!

During her time with our team, Kate worked to define genome sequence variants that affect ENS development.  Kate graduated from medical school at Temple University and completed her surgery residency at Lankenau Medical Center.  She is pursuing research as a Post Doctoral  Fellow in the Surgical Oncology Research Training Program at the University of Pennsylvania.  Way go Kate!!

Carrie left the lab to pursue her PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt.  She has transitioned to a Post-doctoral Fellowship at UCLA. 

Lauren completed her PhD then began a Fellowship in Clinical Molecular Genetics.  She is now the Senior Cytogenetics Director for Quest Diagnostics.  You're rocking Lauren!!

Stephanie left to pursue training in genetic counseling and is now the Associate Director of Genetic Counseling and  linical Program Administrator at University of Pennsylvania. 

Sara did great work with us on the GUDMAP project and left us an amazing legacy of really high quality images for her analysis of developing innervation in the lower urinary tract.  Sara transitioned to UTSouthwestern where she earned her PhD with Nancy Monson's group.  Sadly Sara passed away in 2022. 

Ashley was one of our first RAs and had golden lab hands.  She left research to pursue life as an event coordinator in the Nashville music scene.  Ashley - we hope Music City is treating you well and appreciates you!

Sarah completed her PhD and is now working on science outreach in Cape Town, South Africa.  Miss you Sarah!!

Jen left the lab to pursue a career in clinical research and is now a mom in South Carolina raising adorable Ben!  Miss you Jen!

Alex left research to enter medical school at Wake Forrest University and is now an attending physician at Williamson County Medical Center in Franklin, TN. 

Emily entered medical school at Duke University and is now a pathologist working in the Nashville area.  Congrats Emily!!

Ron was our very first Research Assistant and developed all sorts of new procedures in the lab.  After completing his PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt, Ron did Post-doctoral study at UNC Chapel Hill and is now an Associate Professor at Michigan State University!  So proud of you Ron!!