Roel Nusse wants to understand the role of stem cells in regulating growth, development, and integrity of animal tissues. Nusse and his team study the role of Wnt proteins – signaling molecules essential for regulation of stem cell differentiation and self-renewal. Working in vivo and in cell culture, the team studies multiple different organs and stem cell types, trying to identify common principles, and then extends these investigations to cancer and injury repair. They seek to understand the impact of physiological changes, such as those occurring during hormonal stimuli, injury, or tissue degeneration, on stem cell signaling and function.
HHMI investigators Stephen Elledge, Roel Nusse and Huda Zoghbi are among the scientists honored for transformative advances toward understanding living systems and extending human life. HHMI researchers solve a longstanding mystery about the origin of new cells in the liver. New research reveals how a localized source of a signaling molecule directs a dividing stem cell to produce two different cells—one identical to its parent, the other a more specialized cell type—and aligns those cells.