Dr. Kathy Niakan

Biography

Professor Kathy Niakan investigates the mechanisms that direct cell fate in human embryos and stem cells. Her research involves studying the factors that instruct embryonic cells on the type of cell they will become. Following fertilization, the human egg cell divides and multiplies into an embryo, which after five days consists of approximately 100 cells. Out of these, 10 cells become the embryonic epiblast, which are pluripotent cells capable of forming any type of cell in the body, while the remaining 90 cells develop into the placenta and yolk sac. The primary goal of her research is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control early human development, particularly the processes that regulate early cell fate decisions—a phenomenon that remains poorly understood but is of fundamental biological importance and has wide-reaching clinical implications. Through her pioneering methods, which include CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing and TRIM-Away protein depletion, Professor Niakan aims to test the function of genes involved in key signaling pathways that affect cell fate decisions. Her laboratory has made significant advances in understanding the molecular programs that shape early human embryogenesis, thereby providing foundational knowledge that furthers the understanding of human biology and the potential application of stem cells in medicine.

Research Interests

Experience