Alana O'Reilly, PhD

Associate Member


Tumor Cell Biology Program

Alana.OReilly@fccc.edu
Phone: 215-214-1653
Reimann 363 (temporary)
Environmental Signals Controlling Epithelium Development
Src64 and Follicle Cell Migration.
(Click picture to enlarge.)

Research Overview

In adult organisms, most cells are part of tissues where the relatively stable surrounding environment provides structural support and cues for tissue repair.  During development, the environment is dynamic, and cells respond rapidly to cues they receive at a given moment in time.  These cues initiate signaling cascades that control the dynamic changes required for tissue formation.  Often, these signals are co-opted by cancer cells or microbes to allow them to survive and spread.  Restoration of normal signaling function is associated with successful treatment of some cancers, so defining the regulatory environmental cues and response pathways may uncover new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Our goal is to identify the environmental signals that control epithelium development.  We are using the Drosophila ovary as a model system to address three fundamental questions:

  1. How are epithelial stem cell identity and positioning maintained?
  2. What signals trigger epithelial differentiation programs?
  3. How do adhesion complexes control directed transport? More

Job Opportunities

A funded postdoctoral position is available in the O’Reilly lab for a motivated candidate with an interest in stem cell biology, epithelial development and/or cytoskeletal regulation.  A Ph.D. and experience in imaging, signal transduction, developmental biology, or genetics is required.  Please send a CV and cover letter describing relevant interests and experience directly to Dr. O'Reilly. Fox Chase postdocs enjoy many benefits, including a highly interactive, collegial atmosphere, subsidized housing, and daycare. Top

Publications

  1. Alana M. O’Reilly and Michael A. Simon.  Integrins Control the Positioning and Proliferation of Follicle Stem Cells in the Drosophila Ovary.  Submitted.
  2. Alana M. O’Reilly, Anna C. Ballew, Byron Miyazawa, Hugo Stocker, Ernst Hafen, and Michael A. Simon.  (2006).  CSK Differentially Regulates Src64 During Distinct Morphological Events in Drosophila Germ Cells.  Development, 133: 2627-2638.
  3. Alana M. O'Reilly, Scott Pluskey, Steven E. Shoelson, and Benjamin G. Neel. (2000). Activated Mutants of SHP-2 Preferentially Induce Elongation of Xenopus Animal Caps. Molecular and Cellular Biology 20(1): 299-311.
  4. Alana M. O'Reilly and Benjamin G. Neel. (1998). Structural Determinants of SHP-2 Function and Specificity in Xenopus Mesoderm Induction. Molecular and Cellular Biology 18(1): 161-177.
  5. Anton M. Bennett, Sharon F. Hausdorff, Alana M. O'Reilly, Robert M. Freeman, Jr., and Benjamin G. Neel. (1996) Multiple Requirements for SH-PTP2 in Epidermal Growth Factor-Mediated Cell Cycle Progression. Molecular and Cellular Biology 16(3):1189-1202.
  6. Terry L. Tang, Robert M. Freeman, Jr., Alana M. O'Reilly, Benjamin G. Neel, and Sergei Y. Sokol. (1995). The SH2-Containing Protein-Tyrosine Phosphatase SH-PTP2 Is Required Upstream of MAP Kinase for Early Xenopus Development. Cell 80:473-483.
  7. David Van Vactor, Alana M. O'Reilly, and Benjamin G. Neel. (1998) review. Genetic Analysis of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development 8: 112-126. Top