Zayra Garavito-Aguilar

Grupo BIOLDES (Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo)

AFFILIATION:

Assistant Professor

Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas

Facultad de Ciencias

Universidad de los Andes

Bogotá - Colombia

TEL: (571) 339 4949 Ext 3267/1462

FAX: (571) 3394949 Ext 2817

EMAIL: zv.garavito@uniandes.edu.co/zavigato@gmail.com

WEB:

GROUP NAME / RESEARCH INTEREST IN FEW WORDS:

BIOLDES (Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo).

Mechanisms of specification, morphogenesis and organogenesis using zebrafish as animal model. In addition we expect to use zebrafish as animal model to study human diseases and to evaluate the biological activity of natural compounds.

SHORT SUMMARY OF RESEARCH INTEREST (MAX. 200 WORDS):

 Note: please attach at the end of the form a longer description, with a maximum of 2000 words.

Our research uses the zebrafish as animal model in three main topics: 1) Specification, morphogenesis and organogenesis in vertebrates 2) Uses of the zebrafish to support the diagnosis and design of disease treatments 3) Evaluation of the biological activity of natural compounds using zebrafish. The first topic deals with the question ¿how a cell decide its fate to become part of a functional organ? To begin we will focus on the kidney development mechanisms using the start-up grant given to Dr. Garavito-Aguilar as assistant professor by the Universidad de los Andes. The second topic takes advantage of the zebrafish as animal model to study diseases like cancer. We have obtained a grant from the Colombian National Cancer Institute to explore the uses of the zebrafish to study samples from adult patients who have been diagnosed with Acute Linfoblastic Leukemia de novo. Finally the third topic is still looking for collaborators interested in testing the biological activity of their natural compounds. We are just beginning but count with the experience and the support to move forward.

LIST OF UP TO FIVE RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS:

Schumacher J, Bloomekatz J, Garavito-Aguilar ZV, Yelon D. tal1 regulates the formation of intercellular junctions and the maintenance of identity in the endocardium. Dev. Biol. 2013. 383 (2):214–226

Garavito-Aguilar ZV, Riley HE, Yelon D. Hand2 Insures an Appropriate Environment for Cardiac Fusion by Limiting Fibronectin Function. Development. 2010 Oct;137(19):3215-20.

Garavito-Aguilar ZV. The Role of Hand2 During Cardiac Fusion: Importance of the Environment for Heart Morphogenesis. New York University. School of Arts and Science. New York, NY – USA. 2010 PhD Thesis.

de Pater E, Clijsters L, Marques SR, Lin YF, Garavito-Aguilar ZV, Yelon D, Bakkers J. Distinct phases of cardiomyocyte differentiation regulate growth of the zebrafish heart. Development. 2009 May;136(10):1633-41.

GROUP MEMBERS (NAME, POSITION, EMAIL):*

Zayra Viviana Garavito-Aguilar PhD (Group leader and Assistant professor)

Veronica Akle Alvarez PhD (Co-investigator and Assistant professor)

Karen Tatiana Peña B Sc ( Research Assistant)

Maria José Gacha Garay (Undergraduate Student)

Laura Victoria Mendieta (Undergraduate Student)

FISH FACILITIES (TYPE OF FISH SYSTEM/TANKS, CAPACITY, ETC.)*

Two custom made self standing 4-shelves stands from Aquaneering Inc. with Aprox 2000 adult animals capacity (They were originally designed to keep ascidias. The have been recently re-adapte for zebrafish)

FISH LINES KEPT IN STOCK:*

None yet, system just starting.

OTHER EQUIPMENT RELATED TO ZEBRAFISH RESEARCH*

We just count with the basic stereomicroscopes and tools. I am in the process acquiring microinjectors and cell transplant instruments for our leukemia project.

LAB EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES (RELATED TO ZEBRAFISH RESEARCH)*

Zebrafish mutant screening, genetic manipulation, morpholino use, cell transplant for generating mosaic embryos, microinjection, In situ hybridization, basic histological techniques as well as high resolution microscopy techniques, most of the necessary abilities to work with embryos, among others.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:*

Our lab is just starting (July/2013) but we have the knowledge and expertise to make it work as soon as possible.

Important notice: The idea is to make part of this information publicly available through the LAZEN webpage (PI name, affiliation, research interest, publications, link to the lab web page). Other information, such as telephone numbers and e-mail, as well as details on facilities (all marked with *), will only be shared within the Network. If you do not wish to share some part of the given information, please let us know.

Please, once filled, submit this form via e-mail to lazen@zebrafish.cl