Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The liver performs many functions that are critical to survival throughout the human lifespan. Liver function depends on liver cells called hepatocytes, which develop from stem cells. However, stem cells have the ability to become other cell types, and how they become liver cells as opposed to cells of other bodily systems remains unknown. These cell fate decisions are dependent on key regulators such as cell signalling pathways and regulatory proteins called transcription factors. This project investigates the interactions between a particular signalling pathway called the Wnt pathway, and a transcription factor called TBX3. The Wnt pathway and TBX3 are known to guide liver development, allowing stem cells to commit to becoming liver cells. In this project, we will grow stem cells in a dish and direct their development such that they eventually become hepatocyte-like cells, allowing us to model human liver development. We will look at the interactions between Beta-catenin, a mediator of the Wnt pathway, and TBX3 throughout this process. Additionally, we will use different techniques to remove either Wnt signalling or TBX3 from the cells, allowing us to determine their roles in liver development. This research is important for learning how stem cells are regulated, which has applications in fields such as regenerative medicine. We may also find links to liver diseases such as cancer, which will advance our treatments for these illnesses.