Ben Z. Stanger, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Institute
Department: Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Division of Gastroenterology
Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania 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 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
Education:
SB (Life Sciences)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988.
MD (Medicine)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
PhD (Genetics)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
SB (Life Sciences)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988.
MD (Medicine)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
PhD (Genetics)
Harvard Medical School, 1997.
Post-Graduate Training
Thesis Dissertation, Molecular characterization of the cell death inducers Fas/APO-1 and RIP. Boston: Harvard University, 1995-1995.
Resident in Internal Medicine, University of California - San Francisco, 1997-1999.
Research and Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 1999-2003.
Research Fellow in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 2000-2006.
Permanent linkThesis Dissertation, Molecular characterization of the cell death inducers Fas/APO-1 and RIP. Boston: Harvard University, 1995-1995.
Resident in Internal Medicine, University of California - San Francisco, 1997-1999.
Research and Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 1999-2003.
Research Fellow in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 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
Archana Panikkar - Lab Manager
Tao Gao, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Alfredo Penzo, PhD - Post-Doc Researcher
Andrew Rhim, MD - Post-Doc Researcher
Matthew Emmett - Research Specialist
Zhewei Shen - Graduate Student
Kilang Yanger - Graduate student
Yiwei Zong - Graduate Student
Ian Slack - Undergraduate Student
Jenny Hu - Summer Student
Selected Publications
Zong Y, Panikkar A, Xu J, Antoniou A, Raynaud P, Lemaigre F, and Stanger BZ.: Notch signaling controls liver development by regulating biliary differentiation. Development 136(10): 1727-39, 2009.Antoniou A, Raynaud P, Cordi S, Zong Y, Tronche F, Stanger B, Jacquemin P, Pierreux CE, Clotman F, and Lemaigre FP.: Intrahepatic bile ducts develop according to a new mode of tubulogenesis regulated by the transcription factor SOX9. Gastroenterology 136(7): 2325-33, 2009.
Guseh JS, Bores SA, Stanger BZ, Zhou Q, Anderson WJ, Melton DA, and Rajagopal J.: Notch signaling promotes airway mucous metaplasia and inhibits alveolar development. Development 136(10): 1751-9, 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*, and Bardeesy N: Inhibition of g-secretase activity inhibits tumor progression in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 136(5): 1741-9, 2009 Notes: *co-corresponding author.
Stanger BZ: Organ size determination and the limits of regulation. Cell Cycle 7: 543-46, 2008.
Stanger, BZ, Tanaka, AJ, and 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.
Dor Y, and Stanger BZ: Regeneration in liver and pancreas: Time to cut the umbilical cord? Science STKE Page: pe66, 2007.
Stanger BZ, and Podolsky DK: Development of the gastrointestinal system. Yamada T, Alpers DH, Kalloo AN, Kaplowitz N, Owyang C, Powell DW eds. Textbook of Gastroenterology, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing 2009.
