The Evans lab studies how organs form during embryogenesis, with a major interest in the heart. Our goal is to understand the molecular basis for normal organogenesis, and how genetic and epigenomic alterations in these processes cause human disease, towards the development of novel therapeutics. We are located on the Weill Cornell Medicine campus on the upper east side of New York City, which is part of the Tri-Institution including also Rockefeller University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We are also affiliated with the New York/Presbyterian Hospital.
One of the critical differences between you and a machine is that the machine is never required to function until after it is built. Every animal has to function as it builds itself.
- Scott Gilbert
The Lab Team
The Evans laboratory studies the molecular regulation of organogenesis, with projects focused on stem cell biology, lineage commitment, differentiation, growth, and morphogenesis. We currently use two primary model systems. We use zebrafish as an animal model because of its great advantages for imaging organ formation, our ability to manipulate the genome, and for chemical and genetic screens. We also use mouse and human pluripotent stem cells for in vitro studies, since these models allow us to generate virtually any cells and tissues for disease modeling, often using organoids. Students and fellows in the laboratory always have independent projects for which they are the driving force for discovery, yet we are a very collaborative and cross-disciplinary group, for which mentoring, helpful critiques, and supportive encouragement is highly stressed and valued.
Our Research
Our focus has been on discovering key regulatory genes that specify cell fate, direct cell differentiation, and drive morphogenesis for several organ systems, including the hematopoietic system, the cardiovascular system, and the gastrointestinal system. We probe genetic and epigenomic regulatory networks that are implicated in normal development to understand how these, when deregulated, can cause human congenital and acquired disease including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.