معرفی
Alvaro Sagasti is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), within the College of Life Sciences. His research focuses on the morphogenesis of sensory neurons and epithelial cells in zebrafish, particularly examining axon development, regeneration, and neuron-skin cell interactions.
- PhD: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), studying left/right asymmetry in C. elegans
- Postdoc: Skirball Institute, NYU Medical Center, with Alex Schier
- Grass Foundation Fellow: Marine Biological Lab (2005)
Research interests include:
- Neuronal morphogenesis (axon branching, sensory territory partitioning)
- Microridge formation in epithelial cells
- Calcium dynamics in axon degeneration
- Neuroinflammatory responses
- Developmental pruning and regeneration
His lab uses zebrafish models for live imaging, genetic manipulations, and transcriptomic analyses. Recent publications (2020-2025) emphasize cortical contraction mechanisms in microridge morphogenesis, axon-epithelial interactions, and molecular pathways in axon regeneration.
Scientific awards include:
- Grass Foundation Fellowship (2005)
Former lab members (Jeff Rasmussen, Ana Palanca, Kelly O'Donnell) have transitioned to academic, medical, or industry positions. Current projects investigate axon migration, microridge mechanical regulation, and neuroepithelial communication in skin development.
