The Gannon laboratory uses mouse models to analyze the role of several different transcription factors in pancreatic development, endocrine cell formation, and mature islet function. Lab members use genetic strategies for conditional inactivation or over-expression of these factors (pdx1, HNF6, Foxm1) in combination with lineage tracing techniques to determine the fate of the genetically manipulated cells. The main goals of the Gannon lab are to understand how the different endocrine lineages are established in the appropriate proportions during embryogenesis, how endocrine mass is maintained in adulthood, and how endocrine mass is altered in response to metabolic challenges such as pregnancy, obesity, and injury.

For more information about Dr. Gannon visit her Vanderbilt Faculty Page or her Lab Website

NEWEST PUBLICATIONS

Gene Expression Profiling of a Mouse Model of Pancreatic Islet Dysmorphogenesis.  PLoS ONE (2008) e1611

pdx-1 function is specifically required in embryonic beta cells to generate appropriate numbers of endocrine cell types and maintain glucose homeostasis.  Developmental Biology (2008) 314: 406-417