Name: Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte

Position: Principal Investigator

Research Description:

At the Gene Expression Laboratory at the Salk Institute, the GEL-B lab, we study how genes and molecules orchestrate the development of an embryo. The questions addressed by the laboratory include: How does one cell give rise to millions of cells, and how do they come to be organized into complete structures such as limbs, a heart or brain? How stem cells differentiate and give rise to over 200 cell types that constitute the human body? How certain animals are able to regenerate their tissues and organs, i.e., what are the genetic pathways responsible for epimorphic regeneration, a complex biological process by which animals can regenerate tissues and even entire organs throughout their lifetime after injury or amputation?

We utilize different in vivo (mouse, chick, frog, zebrafish, and axolotl) and in vitro (human and mouse stem cells) model systems, as well as in silico modeling approaches. Our research has helped to discover some of the molecules that instruct embryonic stem cells to give rise to specific cell types during embryo development, and how these cells interact with one another to form tissues and organs with proper morphology and function. This ensures that our body's organs develop and function correctly and, at the same time, are placed in their correct positions.

In addition to improving our knowledge on early human development, our research activities are relevant to understanding the causes that underlie human birth defects, as well as to the future development of regenerative medicine.

Lab Memberships

Izpisúa Belmonte Laboratory (Principal Investigator/Director)

Contact Information

Address:
GEL-B
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
10010 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA
92037, USA

Email: belmonte@salk.edu
Web Page: http://www.salk.edu/labs/belmonte/
General/Lab Fax:  (858) 453-2573
Phone:  (858) 453-4100 ext. 1167