MAIKE SANDER, M.D. Associate Professor University of Heidelberg, Germany from 1994 4203 McGaugh Hall Irvine, CA 92697-2300 Tel: (949) 824-4952 Fax: (949) 824-4709 msander@uci.edu SANDER LAB 4150 McGaugh Hall Tel: (949) 824-4370 (Profile)

RESEARCH INTEREST: Pancreas organogenesis and regeneration in mice

Our laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell differentiation and cell regeneration in the developing and adult pancreas. Using mouse genetic approaches, we have investigated which molecules control the switch between maintaining pancreatic stem/progenitor cells and inducing their differentiation into insulin-producing beta-cells. The mouse is an excellent model to study these questions, as it allows us to selectively activate and inactivate genes in a temporally and spatially controlled manner. The goal of our research is to identify molecular pathways that could be targeted to induce beta-cell regeneration or to develop a cell-based therapy for treatment of diabetes.