Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2001

Mentor: Keith L. Parker, M.D., Ph.D.

Department: Internal Medicine and Pharmacology

Room number: J6.106

Mail Code:8857

Phone number: (214) 648-5027

E-mail: keith.parker@utsouthwestern.edu

Project title: Genetic control of steroidogenesis

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Not applicable

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):A3472-01

Project Type Basic research using mouse genetic models

Brief Description of Project:

        Dr. Parker’s research is directed at understanding the mechanisms that control the development and function of the adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. One focus is the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), which plays essential roles in development of the adrenal glands, gonads, and a hypothalamic nucleus called the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. A second focus is the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), which is essential for cholesterol delivery to the steroidogenic pathway within steroidogenic cells. These studies use transgenic and gene knockout approaches to explore the roles of these proteins in endocrine development and function.

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