Research Summary:
My long-term research goals revolve around understanding the genetic control of embryogenesis. Understanding how gene regulatory mechanisms control embryogenesis is key not only towards studying congenital birth defects but also towards improving our understanding of aging and regenerative processes. Given my deep interest in transcriptional control of developmental processes, I examine gene regulatory networks in both, cardiac as well as hemato-endothelial development. My recent work has shown that a differential threshold of a master transcription factor, Etv2, is required for embryonic endothelial and erythropoietic development and that these processes are controlled through direct and indirect feedforward gene regulatory networks. Additionally, using in vivo enhancer analyses, I have also shown that the spatial expression of a key component of the Nodal signaling pathway is regulated by two separable enhancer elements during gastrulation and cardiogenesis. Together, these studies have allowed us to explore the differential use of enhancers in controlling both, the levels as well as the pattern of gene expression during embryonic development.