Gregory Thomas Kitten

Biography

He holds a BS in Biology - Texas Tech University (1974) and a PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology - Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas (1984). He completed post-doctoral internships at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (1984-1987) and the Institut Suisse de Recherches Experimental sur le Cancer (ISREC), Lausanne, Switzerland (1987-1990). He was Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Iowa, United States (1991-1997). He is currently a professor in the Department of Morphology of the Biological Sciences Institute of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He has experience in the field of Cell Biology and Development focusing on the following areas: extracellular matrix, collagen, biocomposites / biomimetics, tissue engineering, cardiac valve development, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. He also has experience in advanced light and electronic microscopy techniques and is currently the deputy director of the Microscopy Center at UFMG.

Research Interest

The role of type VI collagen during the development of leaflets and the membranous septum of the heart, Expression of type VI collagen in gingival fibroblasts from patients with Down's Syndrome, Expression of collagen type XVIII during embryonic development, The role and function of VEGF and FGF-2 during the development of coronary vessels, Identification of novel extracellular matrix proteins in embryonic heart, Distribution of FGF and FGF-related growth factors during heart development, Expression of angiogenic / antiangiogenic factors in embryonic heart, Levels of angiogenic factors in embryonic heart under hypoxic conditions, Distribution and function of type VI collagen in embryonic and fetal heart, Identification of CHD (congenital heart defect) candidate genes on Chromosome 21, Effect of radiopaque contrast media on the blood-brain-barrier, Cloning, sequencing and functional analysis of nuclear lamin proteins.