Wellington Veras Cardoso

Research in my laboratory focuses on the mechanisms that regulate embryonic lung development. The overall long-term goal is to understand how lung progenitor cells form and ultimately give rise to the airways and alveoli. We have been particularly interested in the mechanisms by which molecules, such as retinoids, fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs), Tgf beta factors and Notch influence this process. We are also investigating the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in modulating Fgf responses in lung developmental programs. To achieve these goals we combine classical cell and organ culture techniques with gene discovery tools, including DNA microarrays, computational analyses, large scale in situ hybridization and mouse transgenic/knockout technologies. This research provides insights into basic mechanisms of lung development and stem cell biology that are critical to understand lung disease states and repair.