Professor Tanya Whitfield
School of Biosciences
Professor of Developmental Biology
+44 114 222 2350
Full contact details
School of Biosciences
C21
Firth Court
Western Bank
91Ö±²¥
S10 2TN
- Profile
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- 2016-present: Professor of Developmental Biology, University of 91Ö±²¥.
- 2013-2015: Reader in Developmental Biology, University of 91Ö±²¥.
- 2004-2012: Senior Lecturer, University of 91Ö±²¥.
- 1997-2004: Lecturer, University of 91Ö±²¥.
- 1994-1997: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellow and Linacre College Junior Research Fellow, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Oxford, and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. Research Advisor: Dr Julian Lewis.
- 1994: EMBO Short Term Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany. Research Advisor: Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard.
- 1992-1994: Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
- 1989-1992: Wellcome PhD student, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
- 1986-1989: BA Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge.
- Research interests
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The Whitfield lab research programme seeks to understand the development and function of vertebrate sensory systems, using the zebrafish as a model system. Our interests lie in tackling curiosity-driven basic science questions, addressing issues such as cell fate choice, pattern formation and the generation of shape and form in developing placodally-derived sensory organs (the inner ear, lateral line and olfactory system).
A major focus is patterning and morphogenesis of the developing inner ear, specifically the development of the semicircular canal ducts, which function to detect rotational movements (angular acceleration) of the head, and so contribute to our sense of balance. Significant recent findings include identification of key signalling pathways in the ear, and development of bespoke imaging tools.
A second, interlinked research theme is analysis of the Adgrg6 signalling pathway and drug discovery. Adgrg6 is a human disease gene, and the zebrafish protein has roles both in the inner ear and in peripheral myelination. We are using the zebrafish embryo as a screening platform to identify small molecules to manipulate the Adgrg6 pathway with high specificity and efficacy, including those that could be developed as therapeutic tools.
Other recent or ongoing projects include the study of otolith formation, otic cilia, axial patterning of the otic placode, otic neurogenesis, and olfactory rod cells. In addition, we study the zebrafish ear and lateral line as a model for human deafness and vestibular disease, including studies of drug discovery and drug ototoxicity.
Work in the lab is currently funded by:
EPSRC -
Wellcome Trust -
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
- . PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11).
- . genesis, 59(4).
- . Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
- . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792).
- . Elife, 8.
- . PLOS Genetics, 15(4).
- . Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology .
- . Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.
All publications
Journal articles
- . Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 133(4), 364-377.
- . Journal of Anatomy.
- . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
- . Human Molecular Genetics, 31(16), 2711-2727.
- . PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11).
- . JCI Insight, 6(7).
- . genesis, 59(4).
- . Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
- . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792).
- . Elife, 8.
- . PLOS Genetics, 15(4).
- . JCI Insight, 2(24).
- . Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology .
- . Methods in Cell Biology, 134, 165-209.
- . Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 32, 112-118.
- . Development, 142(6), 1137-1145.
- . PLoS Genetics, 10(12), ---.
- . Dev Biol, 389(1), 50-67.
- . DEVELOPMENTAL CELL, 29(5), 507-509.
- . Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.
- . Elife, 2, e00648.
- . Cilia, 1(S1).
- . Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 66(2), 163-163.
- . Development, 139(10), 1777-1787.
- . Hearing Research, 284(1-2), 67-81.
- . Development, 138(18), 3977-3987.
- . J Physiol, 589(Pt 6), 1489-1503.
- . Development, 137(8), 1361-1371.
- . Development, 136(16), 2837-2848.
- . Gene Expr Patterns, 9(6), 391-396.
- . PLoS One, 4(2), e4368.
- . Evol Dev, 11(1), 27-40.
- . DIS MODEL MECH, 2(1-2), 68-83.
- . Int J Dev Biol, 51(6-7), 507-520.
- . Heredity, 96(4), 335-335.
- . Development, 133(7), 1347-1357.
- . Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models, 2(2), 85-92.
- . Curr Biol, 15(2), R67-R70.
- . DEV BIOL, 277(1), 27-41.
- . Development, 130(7), 1403-1417.
- . J Neurobiol, 53(2), 157-171.
- . Dev Dyn, 223(4), 427-458.
- . Mech Dev, 112(1-2), 183-189.
- . Mech Dev, 108(1-2), 179-184.
- . Development, 126(15), 3425-3436.
- . Journal of Neurocytology, 28, 837-850.
- . Journal of Neurocytology, 28(10/11), 837-850.
- . Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 8(3), 239-247.
- . Development, 123(1), 241-254.
- . Developmental Biology, 169(2), 759-769.
- . Developmental Biology, 165(2), 731-734.
- . Developmental Biology, 155(2), 361-370.
Chapters
- , Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. xi-xiii). Elsevier
- In Romand R & Varela-Nieto I (Ed.), Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Academic Press (Elsevier)
- , Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Elsevier
- , Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Elsevier
- The Zebrafish Inner Ear In Perry SF, Ekker M, Farrell AP & Brauner CJ (Ed.), Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Academic Press
Conference proceedings papers
- . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 145 (pp S23-S23)
- . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S155-S155)
- . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S156-S156)
- . MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S330-S330)
- . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S89-S89)
- . MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S171-S172)
Posters
Preprints
- Research group
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Research Group Members:
- Mr Aaron Bailiff, Research Technician and PhD student, a.bailiff@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Sarah Baxendale, Research Fellow, S.Baxendale@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Nick van Hateren, Postdoc, n.j.van-hateren@sheffield.ac.uk
- Mr Ethan Giles, PhD student, EFGiles1@sheffield.ac.uk
- Ms Nahal Shahidan, PhD student, noshahidan1@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Haseeb Qureshi, Postdoc, h.k.qureshi@sheffield.ac.uk
Lab alumni
- Dr Anzar Asad
- Dr Mar Marzo
- Dr Davide Baldera
- Dr Elvira Diamantopoulou
- Dr Tania Mendonca
- Dr Ryan Hartwell
- Dr Sarah Burbridge
- Dr Esther Maier
- Dr Georgina Stooke-Vaughan
- Dr Lauren Buck
- Dr Fan-Suo Geng
- Dr Bernardo Blanco-Sánchez
- Dr Giuliano Giuliani
- Dr Leila Abbas
- Dr Kate Hammond
- Mrs Joanne Spencer
- Ms Helen Loynes
- Ms Lucy Smith
- Dr Catriona Mowbray
- Ms C. J. Holdsworth
- Dr King Yee Cheung
- Dr Ana A. Jones
PhD, postdoc, fellowship and undergraduate summer project opportunities:
We welcome enquiries from anyone interested in joining the lab, including enquiries from self-funded students.
Please email Tanya Whitfield (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk) for more information.
Specific PhD projects, postdoc, fellowship and other opportunities will be posted here in the PhD Project Directory when positions are available. You can limit your search by Supervisor.
- Grants
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- The Wellcome Trust
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Teaching activities
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Undergraduate:
- BIS302 Level 3 Literature Review
- BIS303 Level 3 'Patients as Educators' Research Project'
- BIS4102 Level 4 Literature Review
- BIS4103 Level 4 Laboratory Research Project
- Academic Tutor to undergraduates at all Levels
MSc taught programmes:
- BIS405 MSc Literature Review
- BIS456 MSc Laboratory Research Project
- BIS454 Practical Developmental Genetics (Module co-ordinator, with F. van Eeden)