Mungo Marsden

Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Science (MSc) Calgary, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Victoria, British Columbia

Email: mmarsden@uwaterloo.ca

Telephone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 36530

Office: Biology 2 253A

On Sabbatical:  September 1, 2012 - August 31, 2013

Research interests

My research interests are centered around the molecular mechanisms that mediate changes in biological form. In particular I am interested in the modulation of cell adhesion states that allow for the complex three dimensional rearrangements that characterize early embryogenesis. These changes in adhesive state are under strict spatial and temporal control, and in many cases stem from extra-cellular signals that cells perceive in their immediate environment. My major line of research involve two families of cell adhesion molecules, the integrins, and the cadherins. Recent evidence indicates the regulation of adhesive states is through a direct cross-talk between these molecules, indicating a coordination between cell–matrix and cell–cell adhesion. This regulation of cell adhesion is not only found during early development but is also of fundamental significance to a wide variety of health related issues such as cancer and wound healing.

Selected publications

• 2011 Nesan, D, Kamkar M, Burrows J, Scott IC, Marsden M and Vijayan M.  Glucocorticoid receptor signaling is critical for early development in zebrafish. Endocrinology (in press)
• 2010 Spicer, E., Suckert, C., Al-Attar, H. and Marsden,M. Regulation of Integrin Adhesion by Xkermit2/GIPC during Xenopus Development. PLOS ONE Volume: 5 Issue 5 Article Number: e10665
• 2010 Brodland GW, Chen X, Lee, P, Marsden M.  From Genes to Neural Tube Defects (NTDs): Insights from Multi-scale Computational Modeling HFSP JOURNAL 4 (3) Pages: 152-152.
• 2010 Alfandari D., and Marsden M. Mechanism of Xenopus Cranial Neural Crest Cell Migration. Cell Adhesion and Migration 4(4) 553-560.