Jorge A. Cantú
College of Arts and Sciences, Biology
Director of the SCSE, Associate Professor
Office:
Room BBH 310
Phone:
(773) 442-5743
Email:
jacantu@neiu.edu
Office Hours:
Please email jacantu@neiu.edu to arrange to meet or speak with Dr. Cantu.
CV:
Cantu, J_CV.pdf
Country:
United States
Expertise
Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Cancer Biology
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the intersection of spinal cord development, damage, and repair, with a particular focus on unraveling the intricate molecular processes governing cell death. I am dedicated to advancing our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie spinal cord injuries and exploring innovative strategies for effective repair. Additionally, I am passionate about promoting accessibility and inclusivity in STEM education, striving to create an environment where knowledge is accessible to individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring that everyone can contribute to and benefit from the advancements in science and technology. Keywords: Neurobiology, developmental biology, cancer biology, zebrafish, STEM education
Education
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Northwestern University
B.A. in Biology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
High School Diploma, Mundelein High School
Selected Publications
Monick, S., V. Mohanty, M. Khan, G. Yerneni, R. Kumar, J. A. Cantu, S. Ichi, G. Xi, B. R. Singh, T. Tomita, and C. S. Mayanil. 2019. A Phenotypic Switch of Differentiated Glial Cells to Dedifferentiated Cells Is Regulated by Folate Receptor α. Stem Cells, 37(11): 1441-1454.
Wiwatpanit, T., S. M. Lorenzen, J. A. Cantu, C. Z. Foo, A. K. Hogan, F. Márquez, J. C. Clancy, M. J. Schipma, M. A. Cheatham, A. Duggan, and J. Garcia-Añoveros. 2018. Trans-differentiation of outer hair cells into inner hair cells in the absence of INSM1. Nature, 563: 691–695.
Miller, N., Z. Feng, B. M. Edens, B. Yang, H. Shi, C. C. Sze, B. T. Hong, S. C. Su, J. A. Cantu, J. Topczewski, T. O. Crawford, C. P. Ko, C. J. Sumner, L. Ma, and Y. C. Ma. 2015. Non-aggregating tau phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 contributes to motor neuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy. Journal of Neuroscience 35(15): 6038-6050.
Remis, N. N., T. Wiwatpanit, A. J. Castiglioni, E. N. Flores, J. A. Cantu, and J. Garcia-Añoveros. 2014. Mucolipin Co-deficiency Causes Accelerated Endolysosomal Vacuolation of Enterocytes and Failure-to-Thrive from Birth to Weaning. PLoS genetics, 10(12): e1004833.
Cantu, J. A., G. Parker Flowers, and J. Topczewski. 2013. Notum homolog plays a novel role in primary motor innervation. Journal of Neuroscience, 33(5): 2177-2187.
Additional Information
Follow our lab on Twitter! @ProfCantu