Laura E. Lillien, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Neurobiology

Phone

412-383-7269

E-mail

lillien@pitt.edu

Education & Training

PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1985)

Campus Address

W1454 Biomedical Science Tower

One-Line Research Description

Mouse models of developmental disorders.

Research in the Lillien laboratory focuses on a mouse model of preterm birth, particularly its impact on the development of the cerebellum. We have found region- and cell type-specific alterations in cerebellar development in preterm wild type mice resulting in long-term deficits in adults. To determine whether gene x environment interactions impact the maturation and function of the cerebellum as well as other regions of the central nervous system, we are assessing the impact of preterm birth on mice that are heterozygous for genes that are risk factors for developmental disorders.

Representative Publications

Caric, D., Raphael, Viti, J., Feathers, A., Wancio D. and Lillien, L. EGFRs mediate chemotactic migration in the developing telencephalon. Development 128: 4203-4216. 2001.

 

Viti, J., Feathers, A., Phillips, J., and Lillien, L. EGFRs control competence to interpret LIF as an astrocyte inducer in developing cortex. J. Neuroscience 15;23(8):3385-93. 2003.

 

Viti, J., Gulacsi, A., and Lillien, L. Wnt regulation of progenitor maturation in the cortex depends on Shh or fibroblast growth factor 2. J Neurosci. 2;23(13):5919-27. 2003.

 

Sinor, A.D. and Lillien, L. Akt-1 expression level regulates CNS precursors. J Neurosci. 24(39):8531-41. 2004.

 

Lillien L. Rostral-caudal distribution of Emx1-lineage stem/transit amplifying cells and lineage progression in embryonic cortex depend on hedgehog signaling. Dev Neurobiol. 2014 Apr 27.