Rachel K. Zwick, PhD

The Zwick laboratory studies the natural programs that regenerate adult tissues throughout life. Our research defined the molecular spatial patterns that organize metabolism across the length of the mouse and human small intestine and introduced strategies to track changes to this organization in response to stimuli. We are now investigating how these patterns emerge, whether they can be used therapeutically in regenerative medicine, and the regional mechanisms that underlie organ adaptation to meet physiological demand.

We are particularly interested in pregnancy, which represents a developmental window of profound change across virtually every tissue in the maternal body. While central roles for the uterus and mammary gland in this process are well established, we lack fundamental knowledge about the cellular changes that occur at other sites and how they affect short- and long-term maternal health. A major goal of the Zwick lab is to identify unique aspects of the pregnant body that stimulate adult stem cells, drive remodeling of digestive organs to support maternal physiology, and contribute to tissue development in the offspring.