UWMUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison · Biology
Wellik Lab
Deneen M Wellik · Madison, Wisconsin
Research Focus
Dr. Deneen Wellik's lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studies how different types of muscle cells contribute to muscle growth and repair. They focus on unique interstitial cells in muscles that may play a critical role beyond what was previously understood. This research could help us find better ways to treat muscle loss diseases, especially as people age.
striated musclemuscle stem cellsHox genesmyogenesisregenerationmuscle biologycell lineagehypertrophystromal cells
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of Hox-expressing interstitial cells in muscle growth and regeneration after injury.
AIM 02Determine the cellular mechanisms of Hox11-expressing cells using genetic tools and -omic technologies.
AIM 03Compare in vitro behavior and potential of Hox11 lineage cells to traditional muscle stem cells.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturein vivo imaginggenetic manipulationlineage tracingRNA sequencingPCRex vivo transplantationtamoxifen treatmentmuscle fiber analysis
Output against the department
Publications117bottom 42% of dept.597th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.1kbottom 39% of dept.632nd of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.