Jigar Desai joined the Engle Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in the fall of 2005 to work on a project, as part of a larger team, that aims to understand the molecular and cellular etiology of CFEOM1. Jigar joins us from Rutgers University where, for his doctoral thesis, he identified and studied a previously uncharacterized orphan G protein coupled receptor. Subsequent to this work, he also characterized phenotypes associated with mutations in this receptor in the developing eye and spinal cord. Additionally, in collaboration with Bev Paigen's group at The Jackson Laboratory, Jigar and colleagues mapped 5 QTL that modify neural tubes and lens defects. As a result of his work on eye development, Jigar became interested in the molecular and cellular basi of congenital eye disorders
Education:
October, 2005 PhD., Department of Molecular Genetics, Rutgers/UMDNJ, Piscataway, NJ
Thesis title: Positional Cloning, Phenotypic Characterization and Genetic Modification of the vacuolated lens locus
Teaching Experience:
Adjunct Professor of Biology, Kean University, Elizabeth, NJ
Publications:
1. Desai J, Matteson P, Korstandje R, Lazar G, Rollins J, Paigen B, Millonig JH. The orphan G protein-coupled receptor, Gpr161, encodes the vacuolated lens locus and controls neurulation and lens development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Feb 12;105(6):2088-93.
2. Andrews C, Engle E, Desai J, Hunter D (updated September 2006) Congenital Fibrosis of the Extraocular Muscles in: GeneReviews at GeneTests: Medical Genetics Information Resource [database online]. Copyright, University of Washington, Seattle. 1997-2006. Available at http://www.genetests.org
3. Desai J*, Korstanje R*, Lazar G, Rollins J, Paigen BJ, Millonig JH. Modifier loci affecting phenotypic variation in the vacuolated lens mutant (manuscript in preparation).
Contact information:
Jigar Desai, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Genetics, Enders 5
Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Fax: 617-730-0253
Email: Jigar Desai
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