Lynne Bianchi's 2005-06 Honor & Research Students              Back to Lynne's page


Katie Au

2005-06 Honors Project
Auditory Processing in Adults
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi

Jaeda Coutinho

2005-06 Honors Project
Immunohistochemical Exploration
of MCP-1 Specific Receptors
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi

           
  
       Leslie Dowel                                         Alisa Gragert

2006 Winter Term Research
Cytokine Expression In Embryonic Mouse Inner Ear
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi



Lynne Bianchi's Honor Students 2003-2004                  Back to Lynne's page


Ian White
2003-04 Honors Project:
Mechanisms of Cell Patterning in the Inner Ear
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi

Ariel Whitworth
2003-04 Honors Project
Molecules Regulating Cell Aggregation in Vitro
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi

Zeeba Daruwalla
2003-04 Research Project
Cytokine Expression in the Inner Ear
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi


Lynne Bianchi's Honor Students 2002-2003              Back to Lynne's page

Daniel Huri

Ayo-Lynn Richards


IN VITRO ANALYSIS OF HAIR CELL DIFFERENTIATION FROM MOUSE OTOCYSTS

In the developing embryo, the inner ear arises from a simple circular shaped structure called the otocyst. The otocyst is responsible for giving rise to all the sensory epithelial regions of the inner ear, which in turn produce both sensory hair cells as well as various types of supporting cells. However, the mechanisms of cell patterning in the inner ear are not well understood. Previous experimentation has shown that when dissociated, embryonic inner ear cells reassociate into three distinct aggregate types in vitro, yet only one aggregate type contained sensory hair cells surrounded by supporting cells. The aim of my project is two fold. The first is to determine at what point in vitro hair cells can first be detected. The second part is to determine if these cells are preprogrammed by internal cues, or if some factor once aggregated, cause them to differentiate into hair cells. This information can be extremely helpful in our understanding of the development of the auditory system, and can shed light on the possible factors related to abnormalities associated with the development of the inner ear.

TARGET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTORS INFLUENCING STATOACOUSTIC NEURONS

During the early stages of inner ear development, the inner ear (otocyst) releases a factor that promotes the differentiation, outgrowth, and survival of statoacoustic ganglion (SAG) neurons, the neurons that innervate the otocyst. Because the otocyst produces this otocyst-derived factor (ODF) in minute quantities, identification of other sources that produce ODF in larger quantities would be beneficial. Therefore, one aim of my research is to look at different cell lines to determine if they produce ODF, and if so, to further characterize this ODF.

Christopher Macklin
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi
2003 Winter Term Project
PROTEINS INFLUENCING INNER EAR DEVELOPMENT


Ian White
2003 Summer Research
Inner Ear Development: Cochlear Hair Cell Differentiation
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi


Ariel Whitworth
2003 Summer Research
Effect of LiCl and Eph Molecules on Inner Ear Cells In Vitro
Advisor: Lynne Bianchi
   



...AND SOME OF LYNNE BIANCHI'S PREVIOUS STUDENTS         Back to Lynne's page



Abby Person ('00) enjoys having her picture taken about as much as I do. In this photo, Abby (dark hair, back to camera) is presenting her data at the annual conference for the Association fro Research in Otolaryngology (www.aro.org). Our collaborator, Dr, Kate Barald, is very happy to see Abby's data. Abby is currently a graduate student at the University of Washington, Seattle where she is studying mechanisms of birdsong.



Three students (Neil Gray, '01; Abby Person, '00 and Dan Bourque, '01) investigate whether ice cream improves hearing sensitivity. The data, to date, are inconclusive. Therefore, we will continue to test this hypothesis. Dan, who is currently in medical school, will likely specialize in treating ice cream-induced headaches.



Former honor students Neil Gray ('01) and Ellen Penney ('01) are both considering entering MD/PhD programs. I know they will both do very well (and I plan to take credit for their successes)
.

   
Students (such as Neil Gray, '01, and Annegret Falkner, '02) often stimulate their own auditory systems while investigating the inner ear. Apparently it helps them focus on the importance of hearing. Annegret and another recent graduate (Nicole Falk ('01) have both taken positions at labs studying inner ear development. It is just a matter of time before they have more publications than I do.