Sheng Ding’s lab seeks to discover and characterize small molecules that control cell fate and function in vitro and endogenously in vivo. They investigate the mechanisms by which stem cells are maintained, and the signals that are required to direct stem cells to transform (or differentiate) into specific cell types, such as neurons. In addition, they perform screens to identify synthetic chemicals that can modulate those natural processes and guide stem cell differentiation in a dish. Ding’s team was the first to identify synthetic small molecules that can control cell fate, including stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, lineage-specific reprogramming, and developmental and disease pathways.

Disease Areas

Alzheimer’s Disease
Cancer
Cardiovascular Disease
Congenital Heart Disease
Huntington’s Disease
Immune Diseases
Metabolic Disorders
Parkinson’s Disease

Areas of Expertise

Chemical Biology
Disease Models
Drug Discovery
Stem Cells and iPS Cells
Working in the Ding lab

Lab Focus

Understanding self-renewal regulation of embryonic and adult stem cells and the differentiation of embryonic stem cells toward different lineages.
Investigating developmental signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone and DNA demethylation.
Developing new technologies for drug discovery.

Research Impact

By investigating the molecular mechanisms that maintain stem cells and direct their differentiation, Ding and his team hope to facilitate therapeutic applications of stem cells and the development of small-molecule drugs. Their advances could lead to therapeutics that stimulate the body’s own regenerative capabilities by promoting the survival, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and reprogramming of endogenous stem and progenitor cells or more differentiated cells.

 

Lab Members