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Michael Granato, Ph.D.
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Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
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Department: Cell and Developmental Biology
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Graduate Group Affiliations
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- Biology 64
- Neuroscience 6b
- Cell and Molecular Biology e
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Contact information
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1110 BRB II/III
3b 421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
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3b 421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6058
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Office: 215-898-2745
32 Fax: 215-898-9871
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32 Fax: 215-898-9871
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Publications
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Links
14a Search PubMed for articles
82 Search PubMed for articles
40 Neuroscience graduate group faculty webpage.
59 Lab Home Page
45 Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
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14a Search PubMed for articles
82 Search PubMed for articles
40 Neuroscience graduate group faculty webpage.
59 Lab Home Page
45 Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
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Education:
21 5 19 (Biochemistry) c
a6 Diplom, University of Tübingen, Germany. Thesis with Dr. Heinke Schnabel: Molecular analysis of the organ specific gene pha-1 of C. elegans, 1989.
21 a Ph.D. c
117 University of Tübingen, Germany and Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany. Supervisors: Dr. Heinke Schnabel and Dr. Ralf Schnabel. Thesis: Positional cloning and functional characterization of the organ specific differentiation gene pha-1 in C. elegans, 1993.
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Permanent link21 5 19 (Biochemistry) c
a6 Diplom, University of Tübingen, Germany. Thesis with Dr. Heinke Schnabel: Molecular analysis of the organ specific gene pha-1 of C. elegans, 1989.
21 a Ph.D. c
117 University of Tübingen, Germany and Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany. Supervisors: Dr. Heinke Schnabel and Dr. Ralf Schnabel. Thesis: Positional cloning and functional characterization of the organ specific differentiation gene pha-1 in C. elegans, 1993.
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141 using zebrafish to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Axon Regeneration in the PNS and CNS; using zebrafish to study the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as startle response modulation, decision making, learning and social interactions
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9b Key words: zebrafish, axon, guidance, motoneuron, neural development, injury, nerve regeneration, learning, startle response, schizophrenia.
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26 Description of Research
b1 The Granato lab combines the optical clarity of zebrafish with live cell imaging and molecular/reverse genetic tools to tackle two fundamental questions in Neuroscience:
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133 What are the molecular programs that enable axonal regeneration in the PNS and the CNS, molecularly how different are from each other and from well-studied signaling pathways that regulate axonal wiring during development? How do axons and glia interact following spinal cord or optic nerve injury.
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ad What are the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as decision making, learning and social interactions?
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1a7 These questions address fundamental question in neuroscience, and have significant relevance for human health. To get at this questions we use a variety of state of the art approaches, ranging from RNASeq, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and small molecule screens to whole brain activity imaging and live, laser mediate axon transections and live cell imaging at the single cell level to capture axon glia interactions.
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20 Rotation Projects
f5 For more info or just to chat about opportunities, ongoing rotation projects, or the lab's vision to maintain a fun and creative lab, contact Michael at granatom@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
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1e Lab personnel:
2b Melissa Baxter, Research Specialist
2d Dr. Beth Harvey, postdoctoral fellow
39 Dr. Alexandria Hulegaard, postdoctoral researcher
39 Jaffna Mathiaparanam, Neurocience graduate student
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Description of Research Expertise
2b Research Interests141 using zebrafish to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Axon Regeneration in the PNS and CNS; using zebrafish to study the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as startle response modulation, decision making, learning and social interactions
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9b Key words: zebrafish, axon, guidance, motoneuron, neural development, injury, nerve regeneration, learning, startle response, schizophrenia.
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26 Description of Research
b1 The Granato lab combines the optical clarity of zebrafish with live cell imaging and molecular/reverse genetic tools to tackle two fundamental questions in Neuroscience:
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133 What are the molecular programs that enable axonal regeneration in the PNS and the CNS, molecularly how different are from each other and from well-studied signaling pathways that regulate axonal wiring during development? How do axons and glia interact following spinal cord or optic nerve injury.
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ad What are the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as decision making, learning and social interactions?
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1a7 These questions address fundamental question in neuroscience, and have significant relevance for human health. To get at this questions we use a variety of state of the art approaches, ranging from RNASeq, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and small molecule screens to whole brain activity imaging and live, laser mediate axon transections and live cell imaging at the single cell level to capture axon glia interactions.
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20 Rotation Projects
f5 For more info or just to chat about opportunities, ongoing rotation projects, or the lab's vision to maintain a fun and creative lab, contact Michael at granatom@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
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1e Lab personnel:
2b Melissa Baxter, Research Specialist
2d Dr. Beth Harvey, postdoctoral fellow
39 Dr. Alexandria Hulegaard, postdoctoral researcher
39 Jaffna Mathiaparanam, Neurocience graduate student
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e3 Saied-Santiago K, Baxter M, Mathiaparanam J, Granato M.: Serotonin neuromodulation directs optic nerve regeneration. Development 152: dev204334, Jul 2025.
324 Maroni MJ, Barton M, Lynch K, Deshwar AR, Campbell PD, Millard J, Lee R, Cohen A, Ahmad R, Paranjapye A, Faundes V, Repetto GM, McKenna C, Shillington AL, Phornphutkul C, Hove HB, Mancini GMS, Schot R, Barakat TS, Richmond CM, Lauzon J, Ibrahim AIE, Nava C, Héron D, van Aalst MMA, Atemin S, Sleptsova M, Aleksandrova I, Todorova A, Watkins DL, Kozenko MA, Natera-de Benito D, Ortez C, Estevez-Arias B, Lecoquierre F, Cassinari K, Guerrot AM, Levy J, Latypova X, Verloes A, Innes AM, Yang XR, Banka S, Vill K, Jacob M, Kruer M, Skidmore P, Galaz-Montoya CI, Bakhtiari S, Mester JL, Granato M, Armache KJ, Costain G, Korb E.: Loss of DOT1L disrupts neuronal transcription and leads to a neurodevelopmental disorder. Brain Jun 2025.
ef Meserve JH, Navarro MF, Ortiz EA, Granato M.: Celsr3 drives development and connectivity of the acoustic startle hindbrain circuit. PLoS Genet 20: e1011415, Oct 2024.
108 Ortiz EA, Campbell PD, Nelson JC, Granato M.: A single base pair substitution in zebrafish distinguishes between innate and acute startle behavior regulation. PLoS One 19: e0300529, Mar 2024.
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Selected Publications
e3 Harvey BM, Baxter M, Garcia AM, Granato M.: A glial cell derived pathway directs regenerating optic nerve axons toward the optic chiasm. bioRxiv Nov 2025.e3 Saied-Santiago K, Baxter M, Mathiaparanam J, Granato M.: Serotonin neuromodulation directs optic nerve regeneration. Development 152: dev204334, Jul 2025.
324 Maroni MJ, Barton M, Lynch K, Deshwar AR, Campbell PD, Millard J, Lee R, Cohen A, Ahmad R, Paranjapye A, Faundes V, Repetto GM, McKenna C, Shillington AL, Phornphutkul C, Hove HB, Mancini GMS, Schot R, Barakat TS, Richmond CM, Lauzon J, Ibrahim AIE, Nava C, Héron D, van Aalst MMA, Atemin S, Sleptsova M, Aleksandrova I, Todorova A, Watkins DL, Kozenko MA, Natera-de Benito D, Ortez C, Estevez-Arias B, Lecoquierre F, Cassinari K, Guerrot AM, Levy J, Latypova X, Verloes A, Innes AM, Yang XR, Banka S, Vill K, Jacob M, Kruer M, Skidmore P, Galaz-Montoya CI, Bakhtiari S, Mester JL, Granato M, Armache KJ, Costain G, Korb E.: Loss of DOT1L disrupts neuronal transcription and leads to a neurodevelopmental disorder. Brain Jun 2025.
ef Meserve JH, Navarro MF, Ortiz EA, Granato M.: Celsr3 drives development and connectivity of the acoustic startle hindbrain circuit. PLoS Genet 20: e1011415, Oct 2024.
108 Ortiz EA, Campbell PD, Nelson JC, Granato M.: A single base pair substitution in zebrafish distinguishes between innate and acute startle behavior regulation. PLoS One 19: e0300529, Mar 2024.
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