UCI
School of Biological Sciences
Developmental and Cell Biology

Maike Sander

Maike Sander, PhD

Maike Sander, M.D.
Associate Professor

4203 McGaugh Hall
University of California Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697

Tel: (949) 824-4952
Fax: (949) 824-4709
Email: msander@uci.edu
Website: Lab Homepage

Pancreas organogenesis and regeneration in mice - Our laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell differentiation and cell regeneration in the developing and adult pancreas. Using mouse genetic approaches, we have investigated which molecules control the switch between maintaining pancreatic stem/progenitor cells and inducing their differentiation into insulin-producing beta-cells. faculty-sander-1.pngThe mouse is an excellent model to study these questions, as it allows us to selectively activate and inactivate genes in a temporally and spatially controlled manner. The goal of our research is to identify molecular pathways that could be targeted to induce beta-cell regeneration or to develop a cell-based therapy for treatment of diabetes.

Recent Publications

  • Nelson, S.B., Schaffer, A.E., Sander, M. (2007) The transcription factors Nkx6.1 and Nkx6.2 have equivalent activities in promoting beta-cell fate specification in Pdx1+ pancreatic progenitor cells. Development 134: 2491-2500.
  • Seymour, P.A., Freude, K., Tran, M., Mayes, E., Jensen, J., Kist, R., Scherer, G., Sander, M. (2007) Sox9 is required for maintenance of the pancreatic progenitor cell pool. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 104: 1865-1870.
  • Pedersen, J.K., Nelson, S.B., Jørgensen, M.C., Henseleit, K.D., Fujitani, Y. Wright, C.V.E., Sander, M., Serup, P. (2005) Endodermal expression of Nkx6 genes depends differentially on Pdx1. Developmental Biology: 288: 487-501.
  • Henseleit, K.D., Nelson, S.B., Kuhlbrodt, K., Hennings, C., Ericson, J., Sander, M. (2005) Nkx6 transcription factor activity is required for alpha- and beta-cell development in the pancreas. Development 132: 3139-3149.
  • Nelson, S.B., Janiesch, C., Sander, M. (2005) Expression of Nkx6 genes in the hindbrain and gut of the developing mouse. Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 53: 787-790.