Niakan Lab

The goal of our research is to understand how cells specialise and organise into functional tissues, organs and ultimately the entire human organism by integrating genetic, cellular and tissue-scale dynamics. Our focus is on pre- and early post-implantation development, where our knowledge of these processes in humans remains rudimentary, despite its importance for understanding pregnancy complications, developmental disorders, and stem and progenitor cells. While model organisms have provided foundational insights into principles of development, human embryogenesis is unique in many critical respects, particularly around the time of implantation. These differences include unique strategies for embryo implantation and placentation, developmental timing, and morphogenesis.

To achieve an integrated, comprehensive understanding of human embryogenesis, we study human embryos directly to elucidate the molecular, cellular, temporal, lineage, and morphogenetic mechanisms of pre to post-implantation development. We seek to uncover when and how human embryonic epiblast, yolk sac and placental progenitor cells are established and maintained, and to understand the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cells lineages.

In conclusion, we seek to uncover molecular mechanisms governing early human embryonic development, improving understanding of miscarriage, infertility, and developmental disorders while advancing regenerative medicine, stem cell technologies, and clinical applications.