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
(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
- Alexander C, Zuniga E et al. "Combinatorial roles for BMPs and Endothelin 1 in patterning the dorsal-ventral axis of the craniofacial skeleton." Development. 2011 : Pubmed PMID: 22031543
- Barske LA, Askary A, Zuniga E et al. "Competition between Jagged-Notch and Endothelin1 Signaling Selectively Restricts Cartilage Formation in the Zebrafish Upper Face." PLoS genetics. 2016 : Pubmed PMID: 27058748
- Zuniga E et al. "Gremlin 2 regulates distinct roles of BMP and Endothelin 1 signaling in dorsoventral patterning of the facial skeleton." Development. 2011 : Pubmed PMID: 22031546
- Zuniga E et al. "Jagged-Notch signaling ensures dorsal skeletal identity in the vertebrate face." Development. 2010 : Pubmed PMID: 20431122
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
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