Maria I. Morasso, Ph.D.

Maria I. Morasso, Ph.D.
Adjunct Investigator
Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics

Dr. Morasso is head of the Developmental Skin Biology Section, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). She also serves as an adjunct investigator in the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR.

Areas of Expertise
1) epidermis biology, 2) epidermal differentiation, 3) skin barrier formation, 4) Dlx3

Contact Info

Maria I. Morasso, Ph.D.
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute
Building 50, Room1525
Bethesda, MD 20892-8023
Ph: 301-435-7842
morassom@mail.nih.gov
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The pathways that regulate stratified epidermis differentiation and the formation of a functional skin barrier have been a central topic of investigation in epidermis biology. Transcription is one of the most important regulatory mechanisms controlling the stepwise program of epidermal differentiation. Dr. Morasso's research efforts have focused on characterizing the regulation and function of Distal-less 3 (Dlx3) homeobox transcription factor, a member of the murine Dlx family.

For information on Dr. Morasso's current research at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), please visit the Developmental Skin Biology Section.

Scientific Focus Areas:
Developmental Biology

Selected Recent Publications

  1. In vivo impact of Dlx3 conditional inactivation in neural crest-derived craniofacial bones.
    Duverger O, Isaac J, Zah A, Hwang J, Berdal A, Lian JB, Morasso MI.
    J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 654-64, 2013. [ Journal Article ]
  2. To grow or not to grow: Hair morphogenesis and human genetic hair disorders.
    Duverger O, Morasso MI.
    Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 25-26C: 22-33, 2013. [ Journal Article ]
  3. Amniotic fluid activates the nrf2/keap1 pathway to repair an epidermal barrier defect in utero.
    Huebner AJ, Dai D, Morasso M, Schmidt EE, Schäfer M, Werner S, Roop DR.
    Dev. Cell. 23: 1238-46, 2012. [ Journal Article ]
  4. Cutaneous retinoic acid levels determine hair follicle development and downgrowth.
    Okano J, Levy C, Lichti U, Sun HW, Yuspa SH, Sakai Y, Morasso MI.
    J. Biol. Chem. 287: 39304-15, 2012. [ Journal Article ]
  5. Increased retinoic acid levels through ablation of Cyp26b1 determine the processes of embryonic skin barrier formation and peridermal development.
    Okano J, Lichti U, Mamiya S, Aronova M, Zhang G, Yuspa SH, Hamada H, Sakai Y, Morasso MI.
    J. Cell. Sci. 125: 1827-36, 2012. [ Journal Article ]

Maria I. Morasso, Ph.D., started as a tenure-track investigator in the Laboratory of Skin Biology in May 2000. Her graduate studies were completed at the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Investigations (IVIC), Venezuela. In 1991, Dr. Morasso moved to the United States and worked at the National Institutes of Health in the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics with Dr. Thomas Sargent. She is currently head of the Developmental Skin Biology Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Dr. Morasso also serves as an adjunct investigator in the Center for Cancer Research, NCI.