Our lab seeks to uncover the cellular and genetic mechanisms responsible for regeneration and development.
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Publications
Research Summary
Development and Regeneration, Genetics and Genomics, Evolutionary Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology
Planarians, Apple snails, Killifish
Regeneration is in essence the recapitulation of early development. The Sánchez Alvarado Lab investigates the genetic basis and molecular processes of regeneration and tissue maintenance. The group has established the planarian flatworm, Schmidtea mediterranea, as an essential research organism for regeneration science across the globe.
Dozens of genes, and genetic and molecular pathways that drive planarian regeneration have been uncovered in the lab. The lab has identified that adult somatic stem cells are the sole proliferating cell type that differentiate and are responsible for proper anatomical and functional integration of new tissues into pre-existing tissue.
The Sánchez Alvarado Lab continues to study planarians yet has expanded regeneration research to other organisms including the apple snail, Pomacia cannaliculata, and the African killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri. By investigating and characterizing the molecular and genetic basis of regeneration in multiple research organisms, the team seeks to understand developmental and evolutionary tradeoff mechanisms in higher organisms, including humans.
Principal Investigator
President and Chief Scientific Officer
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., is the President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Stowers Institute. Alejandro joined the Institute in 2011, was named its Scientific Director in 2019, and named Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer in 2021. In 2023 he was named President and Chief Scientific Director.
Planarians are an excellent research organism for studies on regeneration. The Sánchez Alvarado Lab investigates the mechanisms underlying regeneration using both the asexual and sexual strains of the flatworm, Schmidtea mediterranea, and a newly discovered planarian isolate, Girardia sp. (Guanajuato).
Where would you be 20 years from now if you were to join Stowers? Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, explains how doing science here is different and why you should join our team.
Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado receives the Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science for his contributions to the field of regeneration—from the identification of crucial genes that control regeneration in living organisms, to the potential for regenerative medicine to treat disease.
In The News
23 June 2023
From NPR's "Short Wave" podcast: For generations, scientists have leaned on seven key species — so-called model organisms — for research. But advancements in technology mean biologists are exploring increasingly complex questions, and that requires more specialized and niche model organisms like finches.
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In The News
23 June 2023
From KCTV5, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado explained the RNA turns into a protein that then tackles the disease. He showed KCTV5 an experiment he conducted using flatworms. On the digital image generated, the worm’s movement changes when MRNA is applied.
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In The News
09 May 2023
From The University of Missouri, Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D., gave a keynote presentation at the Division of Research, Innovation and Impact’s Celebration of Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.
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Podcast
05 May 2023
From KCUR and the Stowers Institute: Host Dr. Kate Biberdorf (aka Kate The Chemist) spoke to a researcher about what his work means for marine life. They dive into the latest innovations and efforts to fix the damage that humans are causing to our oceans.
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Hox genes regulate asexual reproductive behavior and tissue segmentation in adult animals
Arnold CP, Lozano AM, Mann FG, Jr., Nowotarski SH, Haug JO, Lange JJ, Seidel CW, Sánchez Alvarado A. Nat Commun. 2021;12:6706. doi: 6710.1038/s41467-41021-26986-41462.
Benham-Pyle BW, Brewster CE, Kent AM, Mann FG, Jr., Chen S, Scott AR, Box AC, Sánchez Alvarado A. Nat Cell Biol. 2021;23:939-952.
Changes in regeneration-responsive enhancers shape regenerative capacities in vertebrates
Wang W, Hu CK, Zeng A, Alegre D, Hu D, Gotting K, Ortega Granillo A, Wang Y, Robb S, Schnittker R, Zhang S, Alegre D, Li H, Ross E, Zhang N, Brunet A, Sanchez Alvarado A. Science. 2020;369: eaaz3090. doi: 10.1126/science.aaz3090.
Wnt and TGF-β coordinate growth and patterning to regulate size-dependent behavior
Arnold CP, Benham-Pyle BW, Lange JJ, Wood CJ, Sánchez Alvarado A. Nature. 2019;572:655-659.
Zeng A, Li H, Guo L, Gao X, McKinney S, Wang Y, Yu Z, Park J, Semerad C, Ross E, Cheng LC, Davies E, Lei K, Wang W, Perera A, Hall K, Peak A, Box A, Sánchez Alvarado A. Cell. 2018;173:1593-1608.e20.
Molecular characterization of a flatworm Girardia isolate from Guanajuato, Mexico
Duncan EM, Nowotarski SH, Guerrero-Hernandez C, Ross EJ, D'Orazio JA, Clubes de Ciencia Mexico Workshop for Developmental B. [published ahead of print June 17 2022]. Dev Biol 2022.
