Thomas P Zwaka | Mount Sinai

About Me

Dr. Zwaka’s research focuses on fundamental questions surrounding stem cell biology, including how to reverse the process of differentiation and “re-program” any given cell type into a pluripotent stem cell. Zwaka Lab website: https://www.zwakalab.org/

Language

English

Position

PROFESSOR | Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology

Research Topics

Apoptosis/Cell Death, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Embryology, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Gene Therapy, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Activation and Repression

Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas

Development Regeneration and Stem Cells [DRS]

Education

MD PhD, University of Ulm

Postdoctoral, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Research

Retrotransposons can seriously damage the genome of the nascent embryo and cause sporadic diseases and infertility. Here we will explore a new sensing mechanism that involves early embryonic cells “sniffing” one another for endogenous retroviruses and the removal of cells that failed to silence their genetic parasites. Our line of investigation will provide new targets for genetic diagnosis and interventions targeting pregnancy loss, birth defects and childlessness.