| Faculty |
| Staff and Fellows |
| CB&A Graduate Program |
| Graduate Students |
| Graduate Studies Program |
| Anatomical Donations |
Gurkirpal S. Sohal, Ph.D.
|
|
|
Professor, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy |
|
Research Emphasis: CURRENT RESEARCH INTEREST
The main goal of my research is to understand the role of a previously
undescribed population of neural tube cells in embryonic development,
birth defects, and repair and regeneration of the adult tissues. We have
named this cell population the Ventrally Emigrating Neural Tube (VENT)
cells. VENT cells originate from the ventral part of the developing
neural tube, emigrate through the exit/entry site of the cranial nerves,
and populate their respective target tissues. Unlike any other cell
population, VENT cells differentiate into cell types belonging to all
four basic tissues in the body; the nerve, muscle, connective, and
epithelium. Thus, VENT cells are a unique multipotent cell population.
Studies on VENT cells are supported by grants from the NIH.
Education and Training:
1969 B.S., Biology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
1973 Ph.D., Anatomy, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New
Orleans, LA
Academic Positions:
1973 - 1975 Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences,
Florida International University, Miami, Florida
1975 - 1977 Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy,
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
1977 - 1983 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy,
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
1983 - Present Professor, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy,
Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
Awards and Honors:
1976 Best Lecturer Award
Freshman Medical Students
1982 Excellence in Teaching Award
Freshman Medical Students
1987-1990 Ad hoc Member, Human Embryology and Development Study Section,
NIH
1990 Excellence in Teaching Award
Freshman Medical Students
1991 Distinguished Faculty Award for Basic Science Teaching
Medical School Faculty
1991 Distinguished Faculty Award for Basic Science Research
Medical School Faculty
1991 Outstanding Faculty Award
Graduate School Faculty
1991 Distinguished Faculty Address
Graduate Student Research Day Banquet
1992 Outstanding Faculty Award
Student Government Association
1993 Sixth Annual Stuart Reiner Memorial Lecturer
American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine Meeting
1994-1998 Member, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology
Study Section, NIH
2000 Professor of the Semester Award
Freshman Medical Students
2001 Teacher of the Semester Award
Freshman Medical Students
2001-2005 Member, Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section, NIH
Research Funding: NIH Grants
Publications on VENT Cells:
Sohal GS, Bockman DE, Ali M.M and Tsai NT (1996) DiI labeling and
homeobox gene Islet-1 expression reveal contribution of ventral neural
tube cells to the formation of the avian trigeminal ganglion.
International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 14:419-427.
Bockman DE and Sohal GS (1998) A new source of cells contributing to the
developing gastrointestinal tract demonstrated in chick embryos.
Gastroenterology, 114:878-882.
Sohal GS, Ali MM, Galileo DS and Ali AA (1998) Emigration of
neuroepithelial cells from the hindbrain neural tube in the chick
embryo. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 16:477-481.
Sohal GS, Ali AA and Ali MM (1998) Ventral neural tube cells
differentiate into craniofacial skeletal muscles. Biochemical and
Biophysical Research Communications, 252:675-678.
Sohal GS, Ali MM, Ali AA and Bockman DE (1999) Ventral neural tube cells
differentiate into hepatocytes in the chick embryo. Cellular and
Molecular Life Sciences, 55:128-130.
Sohal GS, Ali MM, Ali AA and Dai D (1999) Ventrally emigrating neural
tube cells differentiate into heart muscle. Biochemical and Biophysical
Research Communications, 254:601-604.
Sohal GS, Ali MM, Ali AA and Dai D (1999) Ventrally emigrating neural
tube cells contribute to the formation of Meckel’s and quadrate
cartilage. Developmental Dynamics, 216:37-44.
Ali AA, Ali MM, Dai D and Sohal GS (1999) Ventrally emigrating neural
tube cells differentiate into vascular smooth muscle cells. General
Pharmacology, 33:401-405.
Casanova MF, Buxhoeveden D and Sohal GS (2000) Brain Development and
Evolution. In: Functional Neuroimaging in Child Psychiatry. Ernst M and
Rumsey J, eds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 113-136.
Sohal GS, Ali MM and Farooqui FA (2002) A second source of precursor
cells for the developing enteric nervous system and Interstitial cells
of Cajal. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience,
20:619-626.
Ali MM, Farooqui FA and Sohal GS (2003) Ventrally emigrating neural tube
cells contribute to the normal development of heart and great vessels.
Vascular Pharmacology, 40:133-140.
Ali MM, Machnicki M, Jayabalan S and Sohal GS (2003) Ventrally
emigrating neural tube cells migrate into the developing
vestibulocochlear nerve and otic vesicle. International Journal of
Developmental Neuroscience, 21:199-208.
Dickinson DP, Machnicki M, Ali MM, Zhang Z, and Sohal GS (2004)
Ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells: a second neural
tube-derived cell population. Journal of Anatomy, 205:79-98. Cited as
MUST READ by the FACULTY of 1000.