Professor Nathan Lord's research focuses on understanding how embryos precisely control cell fate and spatial organization during development, despite genetic and environmental challenges. His lab uses synthetic biology techniques like optogenetics, quantitative microscopy, and computational modeling to study how chemical signals guide cells during development. A major goal of his work is to "read" and "write" these signals to engineer synthetic tissues and organs for regenerative medicine. By manipulating cells with light-responsive proteins, his team aims to decode and control the patterns that govern cell behavior.
"DIO3 coordinates photoreceptor development timing and fate stability in human retinal organoids"
McNerney C, Santiago CP, Eldred KC, Glass I, Reh TA, Hernandez A, Blackshaw S, Lord ND, Johnston RJ Jr. Genes Dev. 2026, 40,1-2, 70-93
"Optogenetic control of Nodal signaling patterns"
McNamara HM, Guyer AM, Jia BZ, Parot VJ, Dobbs CD, Schier AF, Cohen AE, Lord ND. Development. 2025,152, 9, dev204506
"Temporal dynamics of BMP/Nodal ratio drive tissue-specific gastrulation morphogenesis"
Emig AA, Hansen M, Grimm S, Coarfa C, Lord ND, Williams MK. Development. 2025,152, 9, dev202931
"The pattern of nodal morphogen signaling is shaped by co-receptor expression"
Lord ND, Carte AN, Abitua PB, Schier AF. Elife. 2021, 10, e54894
"Stochastic antagonism between two proteins governs a bacterial cell fate switch"
Lord ND, Norman TM, Yuan R, Bakshi S, Losick R, Paulsson J. Science. 2019, 366, 6461, 116-120