Neural Crest Cells: Evolution, Development and Disease

Paul Trainor, PhD is an Investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, MO USA with over 20 years of experience working in the fields of developmental biology, neurobiology and craniofacial morphogenesis. He received his PhD from the University of Sydney, Australia under the tutelage of Dr Patrick Tam before undertaking post-doctoral training with Dr Robb Krumlauf at the National Institute for Medical Research in London, England. The current emphasis of Dr Trainor’s research centres on the role of neural crest cells in craniofacial evolution, development and disease. He seeks to understand the mechanisms that regulate neural crest cell patterning and apply this basic knowledge to decipher the etiology and pathogenesis of birth defects and potentially develop therapeutic avenues for their prevention. His laboratory studies neurocristopathies (disorders of neural crest cell development) such as Treacher Collins syndrome, Holoprosencephaly and Syngnathia as well as other neurocristopathy disorders such as Hirschsprung disease. Dr Trainor is currently vice-present of the Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Development.