Ben Z. Stanger, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Member, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Member, Institute for Medicine and Engineering
Member, Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Department: Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Division of Gastroenterology
Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
512 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Office)
527 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Lab)
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Division of Gastroenterology
Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
512 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Office)
527 Biomedical Rsch Bldg II/III (Lab)
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-746-5560
Fax: 215-573-2486
Fax: 215-573-2486
Email:
bstanger@exchange.upenn.edu
bstanger@exchange.upenn.edu
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute webpage
Division of Gastroenterology website
CAMB website
Search PubMed for articles
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute webpage
Division of Gastroenterology website
CAMB website
Education:
SB (Life Sciences)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988.
PhD (Genetics)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
MD (Medicine)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
SB (Life Sciences)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988.
PhD (Genetics)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
MD (Medicine)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern and Resident in Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 1997-1999.
Research and Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Fellowship Director: Daniel Podolsky, MD, 1999-2003.
Research Fellow in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Laboratory of Douglas Melton, PhD, 2000-2006.
Permanent linkIntern and Resident in Internal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 1997-1999.
Research and Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Fellowship Director: Daniel Podolsky, MD, 1999-2003.
Research Fellow in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA Laboratory of Douglas Melton, PhD, 2000-2006.
Description of Research Expertise
Research InterestsOrganogenesis
Stem Cells
Pancreatic Cancer
Regulation of Organ Size
Key words: Pancreatic Cancer, Notch, stem cells, development
Description of Research
Stem/Progenitor Cells in Development and Disease
How do internal organs achieve their remarkable structures? What determines the size of organs? How are stem cells regulated in adult solid organs? What cells give rise to cancer? During mammalian organogenesis, stem/progenitor cells and their derivatives undergo carefully controlled division, differentiation, and morphogenesis to generate complex functioning three-dimensional structures. Our laboratory uses the tools of developmental biology to address problems relevant to development, regenerative medicine and cancer. We use the mouse as a model system to genetically tag specific cellular lineages, or to alter the function of important signaling pathways. The focus is on stem cells and progenitor cells in the vertebrate liver and pancreas, essential organs with great clinical importance and a rich history in developmental biology.
Many of the mechanisms used during organ formation are also important in carcinogenesis and tissue regeneration. One hypothesis that links development and cancer is the idea that cancers originate from cells with stem-like properties. Current studies are aimed at further exploring cellular lineage relationships in pancreatic cancer and understanding the role that important developmental signals play during cancer progression. Another area of major interest is the control of organ size. We have developed tools to determine the extent to which size is regulated versus intrinsically determined during pancreas development. Studies employing the novel tools and techniques are being applied and contrasted in the liver and pancreatic islets. Our goal is to understand in detail how these different cell types behave during development, organ regeneration, and carcinogenesis. We hope to exploit insights gained from these studies to develop new approaches to cancer therapy and bioengineering.
Rotation Projects
Several rotation projects in the areas of are available based upon applicant interests. Please contact Dr. Stanger directly to discuss potential projects.
Lab personnel:
Ben Stanger, MD, PhD – Principal Instigator
Chenghua Yang - Research Specialist, Lab Manager
Tao Gao, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Alfredo Penzo, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Yi-Ju Chen, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Andrew Rhim, MD - Research Associate, Instructor
Ravi Maddipatti, MD - Research Associate
Erin Dekleva - Research Specialist
Kilang Yanger - Graduate student
Zhewei Shen - Graduate Student
Nicole Aiello - Graduate Student
Trisha Saha - Duke Medical Student
Lara Maggs - Undergraduate Student
Daniel Weinblatt - Undergraduate Student
Administrative Assistant:
Laura Murillo
215-573-0908
murillo@exchange.upenn.edu
Selected Publications
Rhim AD, Mirek ET, Aiello NM, Maitra A, Bailey JM, McCallister F, Reichert M, Beatty GL, Rustgi AK, Vonderheide RH, Leach SD, Stanger BZ: EMT and dissemination precede pancreatic tumor formation. Cell 148(1-2): 349-61, 2012.Stanger BZ: Quit your YAPing: a new target for cancer therapy. Genes Dev 26(12): 1263-7, 2012.
Stanger BZ, Podolsky DK: Development of the gastrointestinal system. Textbook of Gastroenterology. Yamada T, Alpers DH, Kalloo AN, Kaplowitz N, Owyang C, Powell DW (eds.). Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Chapter 23: 567-602, 2009.
Plentz R, Park JS, Rhim AD, Abravanel D, Hezel AF, Sharma SV, Gurumurthy S, Deshpande V, Kenific C, Settleman J, Majumder PK, Stanger BZ*, Bardeesy N: Inhibition of gamma-secretase activity inhibits tumor progression in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 136(5): 1741-9, 2009 Notes: *co-corresponding authors.
Zong Y, Panikkar A, Xu J, Antoniou A, Raynaud P, Lemaigre F, Stanger BZ: Notch signaling controls liver development by regulating biliary differentiation. Development 136(10): 1727-39, 2009.
Stanger BZ*, Tanaka AJ, Melton DA*: Organ size is limited by the number of embryonic progenitor cells in the pancreas but not the liver. Nature 445(7130): 886-91, 2007 Notes: *Co-corresponding authors.
