Shawber Lab

The Shawber laboratory is interested in understanding developmental and pathological lymphatic vascular biology. We use conditional genetic mouse models to study the role of Notch, MMPs, and RERE in lymphatic endothelial specification, remodeling, and homeostasis with a focus on the digestive track and the skin. Information gained from our murine genetic studies

is used to understand human pathological lymphatic disorders and diseases, such as Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, lymphatic malformations, congenital chylothoraxes, and generalized lymphatic anomalies. In collaboration with Dr. June Wu, a Plastic Surgeon at CUIMC, we developed a Basic and Translational Vascular Anomalies Research Program in January 2014 with the goals to characterize and identify the genetic and molecular causes of blood and lymphatic vascular anomalies/disorders/diseases, as well as improve diagnosis via new imaging methodologies and identify optimal treatment options for patients.