Alison Renee Frand

Alison Renee Frand is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School Medicine. Her research focuses on developmental biology, particularly the molecular mechanisms governing molting cycles in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. She investigates the interplay between nuclear receptors, microRNAs, and extracellular matrix dynamics to understand developmental timing and tissue morphogenesis. Her work integrates genetics, cell biology, and systems biology approaches.

Dr. Frand's research has explored key genes and pathways, including let-7 microRNAs, NHR-23/25 nuclear receptors, and FBN-1 fibrillin proteins, which regulate molting and epidermal development. She also studies the role of metabolites like α-ketoglutarate in lifespan extension and stress resistance. Her findings have been published in top journals such as Nature, Science, and Development.

Collaborations with co-authors like Catherine Clarke, Steven Jacobsen, and Alan Saghatelian highlight her interdisciplinary approach. Her research contributes to understanding fundamental biological processes with implications for human developmental disorders and aging.