Dr. Karen Downs, Associate Professor
Joined ERP Program: 1996
Department: Anatomy; Faculty Profile
Mailing Address: 263 Bardeen Medical Labs, 1300 University Ave.,
Madison, WI 53706
Telephone: (608) 265-5411 FAX: (608) 262-7306
E-mail: kdowns@wisc.edu
Background:
| Institution | Degree | Year | Area of Study |
| University of Illinois-Chicago | B.S. | 1978 | Biology |
| University of Illinois-Chicago | M.S., Ph.D. | 1980, 1984 | Yeast Genetics |
| University of CA-San Francisco | Postdoc | 1984-88 | Mouse Embryology |
| University of Oxford | Postdoc | 1989-93 | Mouse Embryology |
Professional Experience:
1984- 1988 |
Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of California-San Francisco, Mentor: J.M. Bishop |
1989-1993 |
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Oxford Mentors: R.S.P. Beddington (1989-1990), R.L. Gardner (1990-1993) |
1990 (3 mo) |
Short-Term Fellow of the European Molecular Biology Organization The Hubrecht Laboratory, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Host: K.A. Lawson |
1993 (2 mo) |
Visiting Fellow of the British Council, The Hubrecht Laboratory, Host: K.A. Lawson |
1994-2000 |
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School |
2001- Present |
Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School |
Research Statement:
Morphogenesis of the chorio-allantoic placenta involves growth and differentiation of allantoic mesoderm, chorionic ectoderm, and the ectoplacental cone as well as union between these initially well separated tissues. The allantois will become the umbilical cord whilst the chorion, together with the ectoplacental cone in the mouse, will become the mature chorionic disk. Current projects are designed to discover the genetic pathways, environmental cues, and cell-cell and molecular interactions that orchestrate differentiation of allantoic mesoderm into the umbilical vasculature, as well as the major events that regulate union between the allantois, chorion and ectoplacental cone. Further, we have developed a method of allantoic explantation to discover the mechanism of early blood vessel formation and formation of the primordial blood plasma. Specific questions are How does allantoic mesoderm differentiate into endothelial, chorio-adhesive, mesenchymal and smooth muscle lineages?, How is distal-to-proximal polarity of differentiation established in the allantois?, What is the role of the primitive streak in differentiation of allantoic mesoderm?, What are the developmental mechanisms of chorio-allantoic union, and formation of the chorionic disk? Methods of transplantation, whole embryo culture, explants, genetics, molecular biology and gene discovery by microarray analysis are being used in all aspects of this research program.
Current Grant Funding:
| Funding Period | Project |
| 7/1/02-6/30/07 | Karen Downs (PI) NIH 1RO1HD42706-01. Morphogensis of the choiro-allantoic placenta. |
| 06/01/06 - 05/31/09 | Karen Downs (PI) March of Dimes |