Hans-Georg Simon,
Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Children’s Memorial Research Center
Developmental Biology Program
To contact Dr. Simon:
Children’s Memorial Research Center (CMRC)
2300 Children's Plaza #204
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 755-6391
Fax: (773) 755-6385
e-mail: hgsimon@northwestern.edu
Dr. Simon's website
PubMed
Reference Lookup
Research Interests:
As candidates for genes that are involved in shaping our arms (forelimbs)
and legs (hindlimbs) Dr. Simon’s laboratory has previously isolated
members of a family of evolutionary conserved, so called T-box transcription
factors. The forelimb-specific Tbx5 and the hindlimb-specific Tbx4 genes appear
to be important in limb initiation and outgrowth as well as limb-type specification.
The same two transcription factors have also crucial functions in heart development,
and when mutated in humans, both genes cause severe birth defects characterized
by upper limb and heart septation defects (Holt-Oram Syndrome) or patella,
hip, and foot malformations (Small Patella Syndrome), respectively.
The main focus in the lab is to find out how the same transcription factors orchestrate different functional activities in developing limbs and hearts using chicken and zebrafish model systems. In addition to these developmental studies, the lab is interested in discovering the genes that are involved in regenerative processes. As models for these investigations zebrafish and urodele amphibians are employed, which can regenerate limbs and heart ventricles throughout their life times. The identification of genetic pathways that are operational in these regenerating species but not in mammals, will provide new insights how to restore regenerative abilities in non-regenerating species including humans.