Tyler Schwend

Tyler Schwend serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Illinois Wesleyan University. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying nerve regeneration and extracellular matrix interactions in ocular tissues, particularly using chick and zebrafish model systems to study corneal innervation and developmental signaling pathways.

Research initiatives in the Schwend Lab investigate how sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) create inhibitory environments for nerve regeneration after corneal injury, with therapeutic implications for ophthalmology. The lab also explores thyroid hormone impacts on corneal development and Hedgehog signaling pathway regulation through protein interactions.

Dr. Schwend's teaching portfolio includes General Biology (BIOL102), Human Anatomy and Physiology labs (BIOL 107/108), Biology and Ethics (BIOL 300), Animal Physiology (BIOL 307), and Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (BIOL 325). His lab provides extensive research opportunities for undergraduates in molecular biology techniques and vertebrate model systems.

• Key Research Areas:
  • Molecular regulation of sensory innervation
  • Scarless tissue regeneration mechanisms
  • ECM-guided nerve growth dynamics
  • Thyroid hormone signaling in ocular development
• Recent Publication Trends:
  • 2025-2023: Thyroid hormone impacts on corneal transparency
  • 2022-2012: GAG-mediated nerve repulsion and regeneration
  • 2013-2016: Hedgehog pathway regulation through protein interactions