Mark A. Magnuson

Mark A. Magnuson is a Professor in the Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Medicine, and Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He holds the Louise B. McGavock Chair and serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Research-Designate. His research focuses on pancreatic endocrine cell differentiation, reprogramming of pancreatic cells into beta cells, and the genetic/epigenetic regulation of cellular plasticity. Recent work includes studies on Sox17's role in biliary system development, as highlighted in a 2024 publication in Development.

Research interests span developmental biology, gene regulation, and cellular reprogramming, with applications to diseases involving tissue regeneration and dysfunction. His lab investigates mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions and tissue repair, leveraging mouse models and genomic approaches. The lab has trained students like Jessica Musselman, who completed her Master’s in 2024 and continues as a Research Assistant.

Key contributions include defining Sox17’s role in endodermal cell identity and biliary system formation. Ongoing work explores transcriptional networks and epigenetic drivers of cellular plasticity in health and disease. The Magnuson Lab is affiliated with Vanderbilt’s Medical Research Building IV (MRB IV).