Sharlin Lab Research Projects
My research resides at the intersection of endocrinology, neuroscience, and development. The broad focus is based on understanding the role of thyroid hormone during development of the nervous system with a particular interest in the auditory system. I also have a strong commitment in determining the mechanisms by which endocrine disrupting chemicals may interfere with the capacity of thyroid hormone to direct development of the nervous system.
Ongoing experiments in the laboratory are designed to address several complementary questions:
- What is the role of thyroid hormone in brain development?
- Do thyroid hormone transporters control thyroid hormone action in the developing cochlea?
- What are the downstream transcriptional targets of the thyroid hormone receptor that drive cochlear development?
- What is the consequence of thyroid disruption by congenital thyroid disorders or environmental endocrine disruptors on thyroid hormone mediated developmental events?
We address these scientific questions using a combination of molecular, cellular, and histological techniques in in vitro and in vivo models. The overall goal is to understand cognitive deficits and hearing impairments associated with a disruption in thyroid action during development.
