The Beebe Laboratory
Faculty > David J. Beebe
David J. Beebe
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
djbeebe@wisc.edu
Research Description
Our lab focuses on developing engineered systems for exploring stem cell biology. The work falls into two main categories – technology development and cancer/stem cell biology.
On the biology side, we are interested in the role of adult stem cells in cancer and collaborate closely with Professor Alexander's lab. We have developed in silico models to describe possible regulatory mechanisms in mammary gland development (Paguirigan et al., 2007a; Paguirigan et al., 2007b) and we are developing stem cell assays based on engineered microenvironments.
On the technology development side, we are interested in developing engineered microenvironments to facilitate cell signaling studies and stem cell differentiation (Walker et al., 2004; Atencia and Beebe, 2005). One aspect of this work is to develop an understanding of the relationship between constrained diffusional microenvironments and cell behavior/signaling (Yu et al., 2005, 2007). In addition, the ability of microfluidic technology to create engineered chemical environments has great potential for directing the differentiation of human neural stem cells.
In collaboration with Clive Svendsen, we are examining the influence of different morphogens on the differentiation of human neural progenitors. Finally, we have developed an arrayed microchannel cell culture platform that allows for higher throughput studies on rare cell populations.
Selected References
Atencia J, Beebe DJ. Controlled microfluidic interfaces. Nature 437:648-655. 2005.
Paguirigan A, Beebe DJ, Alexander CM. Simulating mouse mammary gland development: cell aging and its relation to stem and progenitor activity. Cell Proliferation 40(1):106-124. 2007.
Paguirigan A, Beebe DJ, Liu B, Alexander C. Mammary stem and progenitor cells: tumor precursors? European Journal of Cancer 42:1225-1236. 2006.
Yu H, Alexander CM, Beebe DJ. Understanding microchannel culture: parameters involved in soluble factor signaling. Lab on a Chip. In press.
Yu H, Meyvantsson MI, Shkel IA, Beebe DJ. Diffusion dependent cell behavior in microenvironments. Lab on a Chip 5(10):1089-1095. 2005.