Maria I. Morasso, Ph.D.

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

The Morasso lab aims to understand the function of specific transcriptional regulators and pathways in molecular and cellular processes that contribute to epidermal differentiation and barrier formation, woud repair and the mechanisms underlying the pathologies of Ectodermal Dysplasias (EDs).

Visit Dr. Morasso's NIAMS profile for more information.

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, Room 1523
Bethesda, MD 20892-8023
Ph: 301-435-7842
morassom@mail.nih.gov

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.

Visit the Laboratory of Skin Biology for information on Dr. Morasso's current research at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).

NIH Scientific Focus Areas:
Developmental Biology
View Dr. Morasso's PubMed Summary

Selected Recent Publications

  1. SOX2 Epidermal Overexpression Promotes Cutaneous Wound Healing via Activation of EGFR/MEK/ERK Signaling Mediated by EGFR Ligands.
    Uchiyama A, Nayak S, Graf R, Cross M, Hasneen K, Gutkind JS, Brooks SR, Morasso MI.
    J Invest Dermatol. [Epub ahead of print], 2019. [ Journal Article ]
  2. Ectodermal dysplasias: Classification and organization by phenotype, genotype and molecular pathway.
    Wright JT, Fete M, Schneider H, Zinser M, Koster MI, Clarke AJ, Hadj-Rabia S, Tadini G, Pagnan N, Visinoni AF, Bergendal B, Abbott B, Fete T, Stanford C, Butcher C, D'Souza RN, Sybert VP, Morasso MI.
    Am J Med Genet A. 179(3): 442-447, 2019. [ Journal Article ]
  3. Transcriptional signature primes human oral mucosa for rapid wound healing.
    Iglesias-Bartolome R, Uchiyama A, Molinolo AA, Abusleme L, Brooks SR, Callejas-Valera JL, Edwards D, Doci C, Asselin-Labat ML, Onaitis MW, Moutsopoulos NM, Gutkind JS, Morasso MI.
    Sci Transl Med. 10(451): eaap8798, 2018. [ Journal Article ]
  4. A data mining paradigm for identifying key factors in biological processes using gene expression data.
    Li J, Zheng L, Uchiyama A, Bin L, Mauro TM, Elias PM, Pawelczyk T, Sakowicz-Burkiewicz M, Trzeciak M, Leung DYM, Morasso MI, Yu P.
    Sci Rep. 8(1): 9083, 2018. [ Journal Article ]
  5. DLX3-Dependent STAT3 Signaling in Keratinocytes Regulates Skin Immune Homeostasis.
    Bhattacharya S, Kim JC, Ogawa Y, Nakato G, Nagle V, Brooks SR, Udey MC, Morasso MI.
    J Invest Dermatol. 138(5): 1052-1061, 2018. [ Journal Article ]

Maria Morasso received a M.Sc. in Immunology and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Venezuela. She did postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH. In 2000, Dr. Morasso moved to NIAMS where she is currently a Senior Investigator and Chief of the Laboratory of Skin Biology. Dr. Morasso is also serving as an Adjunct Investigator at the Center for Cancer Research, NCI.

Name Position
Deepti Bajpai Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting), NIAMS
Michael A. Cross B.S. Postbaccalaureate Fellow (IRTA), NIAMS
Daniela Grassni Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting), NIAMS
Kowser Hasneen Biologist (Contr.), NIAMS
Spencer Mehdizadeh Postbaccalaureate Fellow (IRTA), NIAMS
Subhashree Nayak Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting), NIAMS
Andrew Overmiller Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (IRTA), NIAMS
Andrew Sawaya Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow (IRTA), NIAMS