Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, PhD

Medical School Department Developmental Biology
Research Program Mechanisms of Cancer Biology Program
Lilianna Solnica-Krezel

Researcher Background

Primary Academic Title

Professor and Chair of Developmental Biology, WashU Medicine

Training

  • 1991 - 1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Genetics, Harvard University, Boston, MA

Education

  • 1985: MSc, Molecular Biology, Warsaw University, Warsaw, Poland
  • 1991: PhD, Oncology and Developmental Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Research & Selected Publications

Research Interest

Employing the zebrafish and human embryonic stem cell models to study the molecular mechanisms of cell fate specification and movements during vertebrate gastrulation. Given that many signaling pathways implicated in gastrulation — including canonical Wnt, Wnt/PCP, Stat3, BMPs, and G protein-coupled receptors — have also been implicated in tumorigenesis and invasive cell behaviors, our studies shed new light on their roles in these processes.

Research Publications

Temporal regulation of endoderm convergence and extension by the BMP activity gradient through mesoderm-dependent and independent mechanisms.
Authors:

Chang CT, Tsai T, Solnica-Krezel L

Journal & Year:

Cells Dev • 2025

Manifold roles of the chemokine G-protein-coupled receptor CCR7 in differentiation of human trophoblast into extravillous and syncytiotrophoblast lineages.
Authors:

Yoon EJ, Beltcheva M, Ali SS, one or more additional authors omitted Solnica-Krezel L

Journal & Year:

Development • 2025

Regulation of the Yolk Microtubule and Actin Cytoskeleton by Dachsous Cadherins during Zebrafish Epiboly.
Authors:

Castelvecchi G, Li L, Shin J, one or more additional authors omitted Solnica-Krezel L

Journal & Year:

bioRxiv • 2025

Signaling mechanisms that direct cell fate specification and morphogenesis in human embryonic stem cells-based models of human gastrulation.
Authors:

Stringa B, Solnica-Krezel L

Journal & Year:

Emerg Top Life Sci • 2023