Email

Elizabeth.Zuniga-Sanchez@bcm.edu

Positions

Assistant Professor

Ophthalmology
Baylor College of Medicine

Addresses

Baylor College of Medicine (Office)

Department of Ophthalmology
6565 Fannin St, NC418
Houston, TX 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-2438
Elizabeth.Zuniga-Sanchez@bcm.edu

Education

BS from University of California, Berkeley

05/2004 - Berkeley

PhD from University of Southern California

12/2012 - Los Angeles

Postdoctoral Training at University of California, Los Angeles

09/2019 - Los Angeles

Professional Statement

During the development of the nervous system, a myriad of neuronal cell types assemble into a network to form highly stereotypic patterns of connections. How the dendrites and axons from different neuronal subtypes discriminate between one another to form precise and highly reproducible patterns of synaptic connections remains a central issue in neuroscience. My lab focuses on identifying the molecular basis of synaptic specificity in the developing vertebrate nervous system. To answer this question, we use next-generation sequencing, CRISPR technology, and single cell labeling to identify the factors that mediate proper connectivity using the mouse retina as a model system. Through these studies, we aim to uncover general principles of neural circuit formation.

Selected Publications

• Veldman MB, Park CS, Eyermann, CM, Zhang, JY, Zuniga-Sanchez E et al. "Brainwide Genetic Sparse Cell Labeling to Illuminate the Morphology of Neurons and Glia with Cre-dependent MORF Mice." Neuron. 2020; Pubmed PMID: 32795398
• Sarin S*, Zuniga-Sanchez E*, et al. "Role for Wnt Signaling in Retinal Neuropil Development: Analysis via RNA-Seq and In Vivo Somatic CRISPR Mutagenesis." Neuron. 2018; Pubmed PMID: 29576390
• Pourhoseini S, Goswami-Sewell D, Zuniga-Sanchez E "Neurofascin Is a Novel Component of Rod Photoreceptor Synapses in the Outer Retina." Frontier Neural Circuits. 2021; Pubmed PMID: 33643000

Funding

The Regulation of Synaptic Specificity in the Mammalian Retina - #EY028200

(07/01/2020 - 06/30/2023) Grant funding from K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence

Career Development Award

(01/01/2021 - 12/31/2022) ARVO Genentech

Career Development Award

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)

R01EY033037

Grant funding from NIH-NEI