Kerry Tucker

Kerry Tucker is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, University of New England. He holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Harvard College (1990) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from MIT (1997). His research focuses on the role of primary cilia in central nervous system (CNS) development and congenital disorders. He previously conducted postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology and led a group at the University of Heidelberg from 2003 to 2013, developing fluorescent protein tools to study CNS development in mice. His work revealed primary cilia’s critical role in morphogenesis, boundary formation, and neurogenesis. Recently, he investigates postnatal phenotypes linked to cilia dysfunction and congenital heart defects. His lab collaborates internationally to model neurodevelopmental disorders like ciliopathies and congenital heart defects.

Education:

• B.A., Biochemistry, Harvard College, 1990
• Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997

Research Interests: Primary cilia in CNS development, neurogenesis, congenital heart defects, ciliopathies, and neuronal apoptosis. His lab combines genetic mouse models with imaging techniques to study cilia’s role in developmental signaling pathways, such as Sonic Hedgehog and BMP.

Scientific Contributions: Over 13 publications exploring primary cilia’s role in heart development, cortical morphogenesis, and neuronal integration. Recent work bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to model human diseases using mouse models.

Advising & Labs: Supervised at least one Ph.D. student (Lindsey Avery Fitzsimons) and leads the Tucker Lab at UNE. Collaborates with institutions globally to advance understanding of cilia in health and disease.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Tucker Lab, focusing on cilia’s impact on neurodevelopment and congenital defects.