Lab

Stenkamp Lab

Lab ID
ZDB-LAB-980204-39
PI / Directory
Stenkamp, Deborah L.
Contact Person
Stenkamp, Deborah L.
Email
dstenkam@uidaho.edu
URL
https://www.uidaho.edu/sci/biology/people/faculty/dstenkam
Address
Department of Biological Sciences University of Idaho Moscow, ID 83844-3051 USA
Country
United States
Phone
(208) 885-8963
Fax
(208) 885-7905
Line Designation
uoi
Genomic Features
Statement of Research Interest
Dr. Stenkamp's research interests center on the examination of cellular and molecular mechanisms of vertebrate retinal development and regeneration, with a specific focus on photoreceptor differentiation, using zebrafish as the primary experimental model.

One area of current investigation is the involvement of specific factors such as the signaling protein, sonic hedgehog, in regulating the differentiation of rod and cone photoreceptors. The aim is to better define the sources of these factors in the developing retina, and determine their effects on photoreceptors by using gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches, including the examination of specific zebrafish mutants.

Another area of research is the study of retinal cell patterns in retina that regenerates following a chemical or sugical lesion. A computational approach to describing these patterns has revealed possible distinctions in mechanisms for neurogenesis and cell
differentiation during regeneration as compared to those that operate during normal development and growth. The lab has now begun to carefully compare the processes of ganglion cell regeneration and ganglion cell development using molecular markers.

Collaborators:

Dr. David A. Cameron, SUNY Upstate Medical University
Lab Members
Prabhudesai, Shubhangi N. Graduate Student Frey, Ruth Research Staff
Zebrafish Publications of lab members