Description: In the JMZ-Lab we study the evolution and development of head and heart musculature and developmental defects that lead to syndromes with both head and heart abnormalities. Those syndromes are summarized as cardiopharyngeal syndromes.
development (16059) evolution (991) congenital heart defects (15) jmz-lab (1) janine ziermann (1) cardiogenesis (1) craniofacial development (1) head muscle (1)
Publications
I am Associate Professor (tenured) at the Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC. I received my PhD in Germany studying the evolution and development of head muscles in larval amphibians. This was followed by a postdoc in the Netherlands and one in the USA to further study vertebrates.
My current research focuses on the evolution and development of the cardiopharyngeal field, a field that gives rise to head, neck, and heart musculature. For the development of muslces is the interaction with other tissues essential. Working with two different mouse models, my team and I analyze these interactions that support normal muscle development. Additionally, I aim to use the knowledge from my research to understand the pathology of congenital defects, which often affect both head and heart structu