University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras · BiologyLab for Intestinal Regeneration Dynamics
Jose E Garcia-Arraras · San Juan, Puerto Rico
Research Focus
Jose E. Garcia-Arraras's lab explores how certain animals regenerate their intestines, especially focusing on the sea cucumber, which has extraordinary regenerative abilities. The research aims to understand the cellular dynamics and genetic changes needed for the sea cucumber to form a functional organ after injury. This work not only enhances our knowledge of regeneration but also has implications for developing regenerative medicine strategies in humans. The lab offers training opportunities for students in modern research techniques as they tackle questions around tissue regeneration.
intestinal regenerationsea cucumbercellular dynamicsgenetic regulationregenerative medicineRNA sequencingtissue engineeringcell differentiationextracellular matrix
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the cellular populations involved in lumen formation during intestinal regeneration.
AIM 02Characterize gene expression patterns during different stages of regeneration.
AIM 03Determine the regulatory genes that mediate regenerative processes in the sea cucumber.
AIM 04Explore the cellular interactions during the formation of the luminal epithelium.
AIM 05Train undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge research techniques.
Skills the Lab Values
single nuclei RNA sequencingin situ hybridizationcell culture techniquesgenetic manipulationpharmacological testingdata analysis using bioinformaticsmicroscopy techniquesRNA interference
Output against the department
Publications138top 50% of dept.517th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.6kbottom 27% of dept.753rd 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.