Research Expertise

Research Interest
My laboratory studies human development, focusing on endoderm and mesoderm specification using human embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

Key Words: Stem Cell Research, ES cells, Megakaryocyte, Developmental Biology, ES Cell Differentiation, Mesoderm, Endoderm, iPS cells, Pancreas, Beta cell

Research Details
My laboratory studies cell fate decisions, focusing on endoderm and mesoderm specification using human ES cells and iPS cells. ES/iPS cells can differentiate into all cell types in the body and can be propagated in culture almost indefinitely, generating a virtually unlimited supply of cells. These unique characteristics lead to the exciting prospect of using these cells to study disease processes and developmental pathways in vitro and eventually to treat a wide variety of diseases using cell replacement therapies.

The differentiation of ES cells into a given cell type closely mimics how that cell type is formed during embryogenesis. This developmental pathway starts with the formation of the primary germ layers, mesoderm, endoderm, and ectoderm. Progressively more differentiated cell types are formed until a functional mature cell is generated. My research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate endoderm and mesoderm development utilizing the in vitro differentiation of ES cells and iPS cells.

One area of interest in the lab is in investigating hematopoiesis with a focus on megakaryocyte development. We are studying the molecular pathways which regulate megakaryopoeisis with the goal of optimizing the generation of platelets in vitro from ES/iPS cells. In addition, we are developing in vitro models of platelet disorders using iPS cells derived from patients with genetic diseases affecting platelet development and function as well as using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to both correct mutant iPS cell lines and generate patient specific mutations in wild-type lines.

The second area of interest in the lab is endoderm formation. We are using the human stem cell model to study endoderm patterning examining pancreas, liver and lung specification and transcriptional control of these fate decisions. We also have a focus on pancreatic beta cell specification with the goal of generating functional beta cells from human ES and iPS cells. Lastly, we are using the stem cell system to model genetic forms of diabetes, using both patient specific iPS cells and genome editing to generate genetic models of these diseases.

Rotation Projects
Please contact Dr. Gadue for rotation projects.


Lab Personnel
Catherine Osorio Quintero, Research Technician
Anna Ada Dattoli, Research Associate
Catriana Nations, Graduate Student
Abigail Ridler, Graduate Student
Karla Leavens, Endocrinology Attending Physician
Giulia Pavani, Research Associate
Danielle Cooley, Research Technician
Pratibha Srivastava, Postdoc
Camryn Willett, Research Technician

Human ES/iPS cell core facility*
Jean Ann Maguire, Stem Cell Core Technical Director
Alyssa Gagne, Research Technician
Elisa Waxman, Research Associate
Lea Dungan, Research Technician



* Dr. Gadue is Associate Director of the CHOP human ES/iPS cell core facility

Graduate Groups

Cell and Molecular Biology

Education

B.S (Cell and Developmental Biology), University of Rochester, Rochester NY, 1995
Ph.D. (Immunology), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 2002

Specialty Certification

Postgraduate Training

Post Doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Gordon Keller, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 2002-2008
Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA., 2002-2002

Awards and Honors

Predoctoral fellowship, NIH training grant: Immunology of the Eye., 1995-2000
Goldie Simon Preceptorship Award, Lupus Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania., 2002
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, NIH., 2003-2006

Memberships and Professional Organizations

International Society for Stem Cell Research, 2004 - Present
NIH, 2009 - 2009
Society for Hematology and Stem Cells, 2010 - Present
American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, 2011 - Present
Grant review Medical Research Council, United Kingdom, 2011 - 2013
NIH grant review for R13 conference grant application, 2012 - 2012
NIH grant review for R24 grant application, 2012 - 2012
American Diabetes Association, 2013 - Present
NIH Progenitor Cell Translational Consortium jumpstart grant review, 2013 - current
Human Islet Research Network Consortium, 2014 - present
NIH grant review for study section Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity, 2019 - 2019
Columbia University Diabetes Research Center pilot grant review, 2019 - 2019
NIH grant review for F fellowships, Physiology and Pathobiology of the Vascular and Hematological Systems, 2020 - 2020

Web Links

Selected Publications