Dawn Cornelison , PhD

Research

• Accepting new advisees Is accepting new doctoral advisees

Areas of expertise

• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience

Research Summary

The Cornelison Lab studies development, regeneration and disease in mammalian skeletal muscle, with a focus on extracellular signaling pathways that modify muscle stem cell behavior. These tissue-specific stem cells (satellite cells) are necessary for muscle regeneration, and follow a characteristic pattern of activity in response to local muscle damage. The signaling molecules controlling satellite cell activation, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and self-renewal are produced by the muscle fibers, muscle fibroblasts, inflammatory immune cells, and the satellite cells themselves, and are dynamically expressed in space and time. The lab studies how satellite cells integrate and respond to extracellular signals in order to rapidly, efficiently, and repeatedly respond to muscle damage or disease. The lab’s focus is on satellite cell motility and migration.

The lab studies satellite cells from wildtype and disease models of mouse, dog, and human in culture using time-lapse microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and gene expression assays, as well as in vivo models of muscle injury and disease in mouse. They also study satellite cell interactions with non-muscle cells, including neurons, glia, macrophages, and interstitial cells.