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Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, and Genetics

	Nestor Oviedo Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Tissue regeneration Stem cells Cancer Planarian biology	noviedo2@ucmerced.edu (209) 228-4541 Full Profile
	Axel Visel Adjunct Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology	avisel@ucmerced.edu Full Profile
	Chris Amemiya Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology	camemiya@ucmerced.edu Full Profile
	Stephanie Woo Associate Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology The Woo Lab is interested in how dynamic cellular processes such as cell migration and cell adhesion contribute to the formation of the gastrointestinal epithelium, using the zebrafish embryo as our model system. We are also interested in developing new tools to study in vivo cell biology. Publications: Woo, S, Housley, MP, Weiner, OD, and Stainier DYR (2012) Nodal signaling regulates endodermal cell motility and actin dynamics via Rac1 and Prex1. J. Cell Biol. 198(5): 941- 952. Reade, A, Motta-Mena, LB, Gardner, KH, Stainier, DY, Weiner, OD, and Woo, S (2017) TAEL: a zebrafish-optimized optogenetic gene expression system with fine spatial and temporal control. Development. 144(2): 345-355.	swoo6@ucmerced.edu (209) 228-4030 Full Profile
	Xuecai Ge Associate Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology We study mechanisms of cell signaling in the developing brain, focusing on primary cilium, the antenna-like organelle that integrate signaling pathways in the cell. Our research aims to shed light on how signaling errors lead to brain developmental disorders. Publications: Ge X, Yang H, Bednarek MA, Galon-Tilleman H, Chen P, Chen M, Lichtman JS, Wang Y, Dalmas O, Yin Y, Tian H, Jermutus L, Grimsby J, Rondinone, CM, Konkar A, Kaplan, DD. (2018) LEAP2 is an endogenous Antagonist of the Ghrelin Receptor. Cell Metabolism. 27(2): 461-469. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2017.10.01 Author of correspondence. Ge X, Milenkovic L, Suyama K, Hartl T, Winan A, Meyer T, Scott MP. (2015) Integration of Neuropilin with Hedgehog signal transduction through control of Phosphodiesterase 4 and protein kinase A. eLife. 4:e07068. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.07068. Ge X, Frank CL, Calderon de Anda F, Tsai LH. (2010) Hook3 and PCM1 regulate neurogenesis by controlling the centrosome dynamics and interkinetic nuclear migration. Neuron 65:191-203	xge2@ucmerced.edu Full Profile
	Jennifer O. Manilay Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Professor Manilay is a developmental immunologist, with research interest in the mechanisms that control cell fate decisions in the immune system. Her current topic of study is the development of T lymphocytes, important components of immune defense against pathogens.	jmanilay@ucmerced.edu (209) 228-4175 Full Profile
	Katrina Hoyer Associate Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Immunological tolerance and autoimmune disease Cellular and molecular interplay between lymphocytes and dendritic cells	khoyer2@ucmerced.edu Full Profile
	Miriam Barlow Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Evolution of bacteria Predicting the evolution of antibiotic resistance Testing evolutionary theory	mbarlow@ucmerced.edu (209) 228-4174 Full Profile