Michael Parsons, PhD

Cancer Cell Biology, Developmental Genetics, Stem Cell Biology

Development, Regeneration, and Diseases of the Pancreas

The Parsons laboratory seeks to understand how the pancreas develops, regenerates following injury, and transitions to disease states such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Our research combines developmental biology, genetics, genomics, and chemical biology using the zebrafish as a vertebrate model system.

A major focus of the laboratory is understanding how insulin-producing β cells are generated, maintained, and restored following injury. To study β-cell loss and regeneration, my laboratory helped pioneer nitroreductase (NTR)-mediated targeted cell ablation in zebrafish. This technology enables precise cell elimination in living animals, allowing studies of tissue injury, regeneration, and disease progression. More recently, we developed improved NTR systems that reduce toxicity and support long-term studies of chronic disease, including persistent hyperglycemia.

A long-standing interest of the laboratory has been the role of pancreatic progenitor cells in regeneration. We previously identified centroacinar cells (CACs) as facultative progenitors capable of generating new β cells following injury. Current work seeks to define the molecular mechanisms regulating this regenerative response. Using single-cell transcriptomics, we are also investigating CAC heterogeneity and exploring how regenerative progenitors may contribute to pancreatic cancer initiation and progression.

A second focus of the laboratory examines developmental pathways that contribute to disease. Using genomic and genetic approaches, we have investigated the transcription factor SOX9, a key regulator of pancreatic development and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Our work identified an unexpected role for SOX9 in ciliogenesis, linking a major regulator of pancreatic cancer to signaling pathways involved in development and disease.Looking forward, the laboratory is expanding into new areas that build upon our work in regeneration and diabetes. These include developing zebrafish reporters of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, investigating neuronal regulation of β-cell biology, and examining how microbiome dysbiosis contributes to pancreatic inflammation through the gut-islet axis. Together, these studies seek to identify mechanisms regulating tissue repair, cellular stress responses, and disease progression while continuing the laboratory’s tradition of developing innovative tools for the zebrafish research community.

Beyond discovery research, the laboratory is committed to training the next generation of scientists. Through the UCI BioEYEs program, UCI graduate students gain experience in research, teaching, science communication, and community outreach while introducing middle school students to scientific discovery. These activities represent an important extension of the laboratory’s mission to advance both science and scientific literacy.

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