Jessica Tanis

Jessica Tanis is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Co-Director of the Graduate Program at the University of Delaware's College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a B.S. from Muhlenberg College, a Ph.D. from Yale University, and completed postdoctoral training at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. Her research focuses on ion channel biology (CALHM family), extracellular vesicle biogenesis, Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, and neuromuscular signaling using C. elegans as a model system.

Current projects include: 1) Defining EV subpopulation biogenesis and cargo sorting mechanisms in ciliated neurons; 2) Identifying CALHM channel regulators via genetic screens; 3) Investigating dietary impacts on amyloid-beta toxicity; and 4) Characterizing novel neuromuscular junction signaling factors through genome-wide RNAi screening. The lab also develops innovative genetic tools like superselective PCR primers for variant detection.

Her research group includes postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates working on these interconnected projects. Notable collaborations include work on mitochondrial calcium regulation and translational studies linking C. elegans findings to mammalian systems. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, and behavioral assays.

Key advancements include discovering diet's role in amyloid toxicity modulation, identifying CLHM-1's role in EV cargo sorting, and developing rapid genotyping methods. These projects contribute to understanding fundamental cellular mechanisms with implications for neurodegenerative diseases and sensory biology.