David M. Bader, PhD, Vanderbilt University*
The work in the Bader laboratory has focused on the commitment, differentiation and function of cardiac and vascular cells in the embryo. The early heart development and vasculogenesis provide excellent systems to examine fundamental issues in developmental biology. Heart development involves the commitment of embryogenic cells to the cardiogenic mesodermal lineage, coordinated activation of cell-specific genes in committed cells, and the diversification of progenitors in a highly patterned manner leading to the generation of distinct myogenic phenotypes. Work from this laboratory largely focused on the functions of specific gene products in the development of specific organs and the roles of these genes in organ disease.
*Dr. Bader has retired and closed his lab
