Jack Schnell

The paper demonstrates that human nephron cells can switch between proximal and distal identities through WNT, FGF, and BMP signaling, showing developmental plasticity.

This study defines axial nephron patterning in human kidney organoids by using synthetic Wnt-secreting organizers to mimic developmental signals and achieve in vivo-like polarity.

The paper compares single-cell chromatin and gene expression data from human and mouse kidney development to identify conserved and divergent features and human-specific enhancer regions linked to kidney disease.

This paper develops a method to generate proximal tubule precursor cells in kidney organoids using transient Notch signaling activation, showing functional maturity and injury response.

The paper shows Zelda, a pioneer factor, works with Notch to maintain neuroblasts undifferentiated and reprograms progenitor cells, but its function is limited by repressors and depends on chromatin accessibility and cofactors.

The paper develops a maize nested association mapping population (TeoNAM) to identify QTLs for domestication and agronomic traits, finding novel teosinte alleles and confirming a rice gene's role in maize tillering.