Jeremy Nathans, MD, PhD

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics

Background

Centers and Institutes

• Basic Biomedical Sciences, Institute for
• Sensory Biology, Center for
• Wilmer Eye Institute Research

CV

http://neuroscience.jhu.edu/uploads/publications/Nathans_J/J_Nathans_CV_2012.pdf

Videos

• Dr. Jeremy Nathans, 2016 Beckman-Argyros Award Winner

• Jeremy Nathans On Studying The Retina

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

• “Seeing X Chromosomes in a New Light,” New York Times

Additional Academic Titles

Professor of Neuroscience, Professor of Ophthalmology

Research Interests

Molecular mechanisms of visual system development, function and disease

Lab Website

Jeremy Nathans Laboratory - Lab Website

• The Nathans laboratory is focused on several broad and related areas of research: (1) neural and vascular development, and (2) the role of Frizzled receptors in mammalian development.  They use gene manipulation in the mouse, cell culture models, and biochemical reconstitution to investigate the relevant molecular events underlying these processes, and to genetically mark and manipulate cells and tissues.

Research Summary

Dr. Nathans and his laboratory are interested in the mammalian visual system and, in particular, the retina, the light-absorbing sheet of cells that lines the back of the eye. Their general approach is to use the tools of molecular genetics to identify and study genes involved in development, function, and disease. A second interest is in elucidating the mechanisms of pattern formation during animal development and, in particular, the role of the Frizzled family of cell-surface receptors. These two interests have converged with our discovery of a Frizzled-based system for controlling the development and integrity of retinal blood vessels.

Currently, they are working on defining the roles of Frizzled receptors in mammalian development. The foundation of our approach is the production and analysis of mice carrying targeted or conditional mutations in one or more Frizzled genes. They have constructed such lines for each of the ten Frizzleds, as well as for other genes that act in the same signaling pathways. This genetic analysis has revealed both diversity and unity in the functions of different Frizzled receptors, and has revealed the requirement for Frizzled signaling in a wide variety of developmental contexts, including axon guidance, vascular growth and differentiation, inner ear development, neural tube and palate closure, kidney development, and hair orientation on the body surface.

Selected Publications

• Badea, T.C., Williams, J., Smallwood, P., Shi, M., Motajo, O., and Nathans, J. “Combinatorial expression of Brn3 transcription factors in somatosensory neurons: genetic and morphologic analysis.” Journal of Neuroscience. 32: 995-1007. (2012)

• Wang, Y., Rattner, A., Zhou, Y., Williams, J., Smallwood, P.M., and Nathans, J. “Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling in retinal vascular development and blood brain barrier plasticity.” Cell 151: 1332-1344. (2012)

• Wu, H., Williams, J., and Nathans, J. “Morphologic diversity of cutaneous sensory afferents revealed by genetically directed sparse labeling.” eLife 1:e00181. (2012)

• Ye, X., Wang, Y., Rattner, A., and Nathans, J. “Genetic mosaic analysis reveals a major role for frizzled4 and frizzled8 in controlling ureteric growth in the developing kidney.” Development 138: 11161-1172. (2011)

• Yu, H., Ye, X., Guo, N. and Nathans, J. “Frizzled2 and Frizzled7 function redundantly in convergent extension and closure of the ventricular septum and palate: evidence for a network of interacting genes.” Development 139: 4383-4394. (2012)

Honors

• Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research, ARVO, 5/2/19
• Beckman-Argyros Award Winner, The Beckman Foundation, 8/24/16
• Albert Muse Prize (The Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh), 1/1/12
• Teacher of the Year, Johns Hopkins Medical School, 1/1/10
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1/1/09
• Edward M. Scolnick Prize in Neuroscience ( McGovern Institute, 1/1/09
• Champalimaud Award for Vision Research (shared with King-Wai Yau), 1/1/08
• Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence, American Medical Student Association, 1/1/04
• Professor's Award for Distinction in Teaching in the Basic Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical School, 1/1/04
• Young Investigator Award, Society for Neuroscience, 1/1/95
• Alcon Research Institute Award for Vision Research, Alcon Laboratories, 1/1/92
• Cogan Award, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 1/1/92
• Golden Brain Award, Minerva Foundation, 1/1/89
• Distinguished Young Scientist Award, Maryland Academy of Sciences, 1/1/89
• Wilson S. Stone Memorial Award, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1/1/88
• Rank Prize in Opto-Electronics, Rank Prize Fund (London), 1/1/88
• Initiatives in Research Award, National Academy of Sciences, 1/1/87
• Young Scientist Award, Passano Foundation, 1/1/87
• Newcomb-Cleveland Prize, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1/1/86
• Alpha Chi Sigma Award for excellence in chemistry, M.I.T., 1/1/79
• John Asinari Award for undergraduate research in the life sciences, M.I.T., 1/1/78

Graduate Program Affiliations

• Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB) Graduate Program

  Neuroscience

  Cellular and Molecular Medicine (CMM)

Memberships

• American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Institute of Medicine, U.S.A.
• National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.

Professional Activities

• Beckman Initiative for Macular Research, Grant Review Panel, 1/1/10
• Harvard Medical School, Visiting Committee, 1/1/06
• HHMI International Scholars Program, Grant Review Panel, 1/1/06 - 1/1/11
• HHMI Janelia Farm Research Campus, Advisor, 1/1/09
• HHMI Professors Program, Grant Review Panel, 1/1/10
• Johns Hopkins University, Scientific Advisory Board, 1/1/91 - 1/1/92
• Journal of Neuroscience, Associate Editor, 1/1/91 - 1/1/96
• Life Sciences Research Foundation, Grant Review Board, 1/1/05
• Machiah Foundation, Scientific Advisory Committee, 1/1/09 - 1/1/11
• McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience, Grant Review Board, 1/1/00 - 1/1/11
• Merck Research Laboratories, Scientific Advisory Board, 1/1/08
• National Eye Institute, Intramural Program Review Committee, 1/1/97 - 1/1/98
• Novartis, Scientific Advisory Board for Ophthalmology, 1/1/05 - 1/1/08
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Associate Editor, 1/1/05 - 1/1/06
• The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Scientific Advisory Board, 1/1/95
• The Ruth and Milton Steinbach Fund, Scientific Advisory Board, 1/1/97 - 1/1/07