Erica Hutchins

Erica Hutchins, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell & Tissue Biology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Her research focuses on post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms governing developmental pluripotency and cell fate decisions in neural crest cells, a critical stem cell population in vertebrate embryos. Her lab investigates how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to congenital disorders and cancers, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Her work employs systems-level approaches and cutting-edge developmental biology techniques, particularly using vertebrate neural crest as a model system. Key research areas include RNA-binding proteins, extracellular signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt, BMP), and the interplay between post-transcriptional regulation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT). Recent studies highlight CRISPR-Cas13d applications for gene knockdown in chick embryos and the role of Draxin in regulating neural crest migration and Wnt signaling.

Dr. Hutchins’ articles span over a decade, with a focus on molecular mechanisms underlying neural crest biology, cancer cell migration, and developmental defects. She has contributed to understanding how RNA-binding proteins like Elavl1/HuR and hnRNP K regulate cell fate decisions and axon outgrowth in Xenopus and chick models.

Her lab (Hutchins Lab) integrates experimental and computational methods to dissect post-transcriptional networks. Current projects aim to elucidate how post-transcriptional regulation shapes cell state transitions and how these processes are hijacked in disease contexts. No formal awards are listed here, but her extensive publication record reflects sustained contributions to developmental and molecular biology.