Wendy Beane

Dr. Wendy Beane is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western Michigan University. Her research focuses on understanding the bioelectrical and molecular mechanisms underlying regeneration in planarian flatworms, emphasizing how cell migration, division, and signaling coordinate to regenerate tissue shape and structure. Key areas include reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, planar cell polarity pathways, and quantum biological effects of magnetic fields on stem cells. Her work bridges basic research with potential applications in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

Dr. Beane leads the Beane Lab, collaborating with physicists and engineers to explore innovative methods like quantum field manipulation of adult stem cells. She has received prestigious awards including the CAREER Award and Presidential Innovation Professorship, and her research is funded by grants such as EAGER/RCN and SFSA Research Enhancement Awards.

Teaching responsibilities include courses like Developmental Biology (BIOS 5740) and Stem Cells and Regeneration (BIOS 5750). Her lab actively seeks motivated PhD students for interdisciplinary research, though undergraduate applications are currently closed. She emphasizes rigorous mentorship and requires students to have prior coursework or research experience with her.

Key achievements include identifying magnetic field effects on superoxide regulation in planarians and demonstrating how planar cell polarity pathways terminate neural growth. Her lab’s findings challenge traditional views of regeneration control, highlighting biophysical mechanisms as critical regulators of morphogenesis.