The key interest of my laboratory is understanding how cells use their genome to integrate environmental and mechanical cues to coordinate tissue morphogenesis during development. We focus on the development of the blood and vascular systems, paradigmatic tissues where hemodynamics and genetic programs act in tandem to pattern the vascular tree and direct the formation of hematopoietic stem cells from hemogenic endothelium. We pursue these questions primarily in the zebrafish Danio rerio, a genetically tractable vertebrate model in which vascular function and forces can be preserved while experimental and live imaging approaches are conducted. At the VBRI, we leverage the collaborative environment and depth of hematology expertise to translate these findings into human and murine models, and take a keen interest in the scientific training and career development of our team. Ongoing projects in the lab aim to decipher the suite of molecular changes induced by hemodynamics in hemogenic endothelium that are responsible for the successful production of hematopoietic stem cells by the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition.

• NIDDK K01DK129409 Career Development Award – Mechanisms of Flow-driven Transcriptional Control of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development by YAP (2021 – 2026)

The Sugden Lab is recruiting for research positions at various levels. For inquiries, contact ehenschel@versiti.org

Open Positions

1. Lummertz da Rocha E.*, Kubaczka C.*, Sugden W.W., Najia M.A., Jing R., Markel A., LeBlanc Z.C., dos Santos Peixoto R., Falchetti M., Collins J.J., North T.E. and Daley G.Q. CellComm infers cellular crosstalk that drives haematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development. Nat Cell Biol 2022 Apr; 24(4), 579-589 PMCID: PMC10123873. *equal contribution
2. Lundin V*, Sugden W.W.*, Theodore L.N.*, Sousa P.M., Han A., Chou S., Wrighton P.J., Cox A.G., Ingber D.E., Goessling W., Daley G.Q. and North T.E. YAP regulates hematopoietic stem cell formation in response to the biomechanical forces of blood flow. Dev Cell 2020 Feb 24(4), 446-460 PMCID: PMC7398148 *equal contribution
3. Sugden W.W., Leonardo-Mendonça R.C., Acuña-Castroviejo D. and Siekmann A.F. Genetic dissection of endothelial transcriptional activity of zebrafish aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AHRs). PLoS One 2017 Aug 17; 12(8), e0183433. PMCID: PMC5560736
4. Sugden W.W., Meissner R., Aegerter-Wilmsen T., Tsaryk R., Leonard E.V., Bussmann J., Hamm M.J., Herzog W., Denz C. and Siekmann A.F. Endoglin controls blood vessel diameter through endothelial cell shape changes in response to haemodynamic cues. Nat Cell Biol 2017 Jun; 19(6), 653-665. PMCID: PMC5455977

link to publications:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/wade.sugden.1/bibliography/public/