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The Core Team:

PI: Janine M. Ziermann, PhD, Associate Prof. (tenured)

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Ms. Paola Correa-Alfonzo, BS, Labmanager and Research Assistant

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Mr. Julius Cheesar, Lab mascot, Lab supervisor

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Current students

- Tashanti A. Bridgett - MS Anatomy (exp. Spring 2023)

- Kristen N. McPike - PhD Anatomy (exp. Fall 2023)

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Former Students @ Howard University

- Malynda Williams - MS Anatomy (July 2021)

- Kristen N. McPike - MS Anatomy (July 2020)

- Bosung Titanji - MS Anatomy (May 2020)

- Malak A. Alghamdi - PhD Anatomy (May 2018)

- Aamina H. Malik - MS Anatomy (March 2015)

- Malak A. Alghamdi - MS Anatomy (March 2015)

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Paola Correa-Alfonzo, BS

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Julius Cheesar

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Janine M. Ziermann, PhD

2022-present: Tashanti A. Bridgett

Master Thesis:  Development of Genitals

Topic will be narrowed in the upcoming weeks. 

Expected graduation Spring 2023

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Tashanti A. Bridgett, MS Student

Head and heart development in mouse mutants (Funded NSF-HBCU 18-522 ID: 1956450 (UDC) & 2000005 (HUCM))

  • Project description: We analyze the anatomy of mouse mutants to identify soft and hard tissue malformations. Our aims are to describe in detail the malformation of the head and the heart, their development, and the implications from observed malformations for our understanding of developmental mechanisms. Specifically, we want to analyze if the observed abnormalities are correlated with malformations in the cardiopharyngeal field, a mesodermal field that gives rise to branchiomeric and cardiac musculature. This part is also important as it contributes to our understanding of congenital defects in humans which often comprise cardiac and craniofacial anomalies. 

  • 2018-present: Kristen N. McPike - graduate student (PhD in Anatomy), HUCM, Dept. Anat., year 2020

  • Collaborator on this project is Dr. Julia C. Boughner (p63 mutants)

    • University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, Dept. Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E5 Canada​

  • Collaborator on this project is Dr. Samuel T. Waters (Gbx2 neo mutants)​

    • University of District of Columbia,, College of Arts and Sciences, Division of Sciences and Mathematics; 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20008​

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Kristen N. McPike (Spring 2019) 

Anatomy of a female human fetus with skeletal and organ malformations​  

  • Project description: We analyze the anatomy of a female human fetus (approximately 30-32 weeks old; donated in the 1980s for research). Our aims are to describe in detail the malformation of the thoracic and abdominal organs as well as any abnormalities of the musculoskeletal anatomy. We use descriptions of the normal development, as well as case studies to link our observed malformations with a possible causes for the fetuses' abnormalities. Specifically, we want to analyze if the observed craniofaical and cardiac abnormalities are correlated with developmental defects related to the cardiopharyngeal field, a mesodermal field that gives rise to branchiomeric and cardiac musculature. This part is also important as it contributes to our understanding of congenital defects in humans which often comprise cardiac and craniofacial anomalies. 

  • 2019-2020: Bosung Titanji - graduate student (Master of Anatomy), HUCM, Dept. Anat., year 2020

    • Analyses of thoracic and abdominal organs ​

  • 2019-2020: Taylor Spann - medical student HUCM, Year 2021

    • Analyses of the musculoskeletal anatomy

    • Co-investigator: Dr. Rui Diogo, Dept. Anat., HUCM

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Bosung Titanji (Autumn 2019), successfully defended her Master Thesis May 2020 

Cardiopharyngeal field derivatives in Xenopus laevis​

  • Project description: We analyze the expression of genes involved in head-heart-muscle development during the development of Xenopus. The results are compared to published studies in other animals to identify similarities and differences. Similarities confirm that there is an evolutionary conserved developmental mechanism underlying the head-heart muscular development. On the other hand, differences can give insights into normal variations, but also could help to understand malformations observed in mutants and ultimately in humans. The latter part is important as it contributes to our understanding of congenital defects which often comprise cardiac and craniofacial anomalies. 

  • 2017-2018 Dr. Natalia Siomava - Post-Doctoral Associate

    • Islet1 expression in Xenopus laevis embryos

  • 2017-2018 Dameel Edwards - HUCM Medical student year 2020

    • Nkx2-5 expression in Xenopus laevis embryos

Ventral view of Nkx2-5 expression in Xenopus laevis embryo, stage 25. CG - Cement Gland, FHF - First heart field, SHF - Second heart field. Photo by Dameel Edwards. 

Heart morphology and development in vertebrates; the mystery of the fifth pharyngeal arch artery

  • Project description: The derivatives of the fourth to sixth pharyngeal arch arteries are well studied in vertebrates. However, there is the mystery of the fifth pharyngeal arch artery, which may or may not have been lost in evolution and/or development of tetrapods or amniotes or mammals. The heart morphology across vertebrates (e.g., dogfish, carp, salamander, frogs, turtle, dove, mouse, rat) is compared as an initial step to unravel this mystery. The development of those hearts and their adjacent vessels will be compared to assess where the 5th pharyngeal arch artery should be located in tetrapods. The study will also give insights into the evolution of heart chamber formation in vertebrates. 

  • 2017-ongoing: Haripreet Mayo, Delaena Cline, Bernard Brown (HUCM Medical students year 2020)

    • Comparison of adult hearts and adjacent major arteries

Hand morphology in Humans

  • Project description: The hand and in particular our thumb are our most important tools. Malformations or injuries can impact daily routines e.g., dressing, holding a cup, using cell phones, brushing teeth, etc. A detailed knowledge of normal anatomy and normal occurring variations of the hand's musculature, vascular and nervous system, and connective tissue are important for many reasons (e.g., surgery, therapy).

  • Aug 2017- Feb 2018 Derek Altema  - HUCM Medical student year 2020)

    • Anastomosing nerves and vessels (arteries) in the hand – in particular thenar compartment

  • 2012 - 2019: collaboration with Dr. M. Ashraf Aziz and Dr. Samuel Dunlap​

Anterior view of human thenar (thumb) compartment. The deep head of Cruveilhier is a variable structure that is present in all humans analyzed but can have several appearances (1 head, 2 heads, variations in origin and/or insertions). 

FINISHED PROJECTS/INTERNSHIPS/THESIS

USA​ 

  • 2016-2018 Comparative morphology of muscles in trisomic human (PI: Rui Diogo, Co-Advisor: Janine Ziermann): several articles published

    • Malak A. Al-Ghamdi: PhD student; Howard University, Washington, DC, US

  • 2016 Innervation of the heads of the triceps brachii muscle in humans (PI: Janine Ziermann): Article published in The Anatomical Record

    • Arthur McDowell: current Medical student, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, US

    • Michael Wade: current Medical student, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, US

  • 2016 Cardiopharyngeal syndromes in humans (PI: Janine Ziermann): Article published in Journal of Human Anatomy 2017

    • Simmi Singh: Medical student, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, US

    • Fatimah Fahimuddin: Medical student, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, US

    • Angelique Forrester: Medical student, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, US

  • 2015 Normal muscle anatomy in Human neonates (PI: Rui Diogo, Janine Ziermann)

    • Eddie Bauer (Former Master Student): Master in Anatomy; Howard University, Washington, DC, US)

  • 2015 Comparative morphology of muscles in trisomic human extremities (PI: Janine Ziermann, Co-Advisor: Rui Diogo)

    • Aamina H. Malik: Master in Anatomy; Howard University, Washington, DC, US

    • Malak A. Al-Ghamdi: Master in Anatomy; Howard University, Washington, DC, US

  • 2014-2015 Trisomic human fetuses​

    • Bianca Wilson (Master in Anatomy, Howard University): Muscles of Trisomy 21 fetus

    • Christopher Smith (Master in Medical and Biological Illustration, Dept. Art as Applied to Medicine, John Hopkins University School of Medicine): Muscles of Trisomy 18 fetus

    • Sean Welsh (Howard University, Washington, DC): Muscles of Trisomy 18 fetus

 

The Netherlands

  • Nico Kist (Master in Biology; Leiden University)

  • Nicole Webster (Leiden University)

  • Marlous Ouwendijk (Leiden University)

  • Amy Gravendaal

 

Germany

  • Martin Fritsch (Diplom in Biology): Friedrich Schiller University, Jena

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