Advisor: Wilder Scott, Sunnybrook Research Institute/U of T

Suggested co-advisors: John Zettel [1], Jonathan LaMarre [2], Andrew Hamilton-Wright [3]

The regenerative capacity of tendon is limited and further decreases as we age. Therefore, many injuries fail to effectively heal and affect our ability to work, exercise and otherwise quality of life. This project will explore the molecular and cell biology of tendon healing. In particular, the transcriptomic and epigenetic sequence of events driving the differentiation process of embryonic and adult mesenchymal cells toward mature tendon cells will be interrogated. Students will analyze primary single cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq as well as spatial transcriptomic datasets using existing, and further customize, bioinformatic tools to uncover the key gene regulatory networks and cell communication signals associated with successful and pathological tendon formation and healing.

This project is suitable for one or two semesters.

Knowledge/Skills

Coding R and/or Python, basic understanding of gene regulation