Sarah Millar, PhD
- DIRECTOR, BLACK FAMILY STEM CELL INSTITUTE
- PROFESSOR | Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology
- PROFESSOR | Dermatology
- PROFESSOR | Oncological Sciences
Research Topics:
Cancer, Cellular Differentiation, Chromatin, Dermatology, Developmental Biology, Differentiation, Epigenetics, Gene Expressions, Gene Regulation, Gene editing, Genetics, Genomics, Knockout Mice, Morphogenesis, Organogenesis, Receptors, Regeneration, Skin Cancer, Stem Cells, Transcription Factors, Transcriptional Activation and Repression, Transgenic MiceSarah E. Millar, PhD is Director of the Black Family Stem Cell Institute, and Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professorial Chair in the Departments of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology and Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on the roles of Wnt signaling and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in development and regeneration of the skin and its appendages. She is an Editorial Board member for Developmental Cell and Experimental Dermatology, and Deputy Editor for the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Dr. Millar has received several awards in recognition of her research, including an NIH MERIT Award for her work on Wnt signaling in the skin, and the 2017 William Montagna Lectureship Award of the Society for Investigative Dermatology. Millar Lab website: http://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/millarlab/
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cells [DRS]Education
BA, Cambridge University
PhD, Imperial College, London University
-
2019
Vice-President of the Society for Investigative Dermatology -
2017
William Montagna Lectureship Award -
2016
FOCUS Award for the Advancement of Women in Medicine -
2013
Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) fellow -
2012
MERIT Award
Research
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the development, patterning and postnatal renewal of the skin and ectodermal appendage organs such as hair follicles, teeth, and taste papillae, and identifying stem and progenitor cell populations in these organs, is critical for developing new therapies to accelerate wound healing, treat hair loss diseases, repair or replace diseased teeth, and ameliorate taste dysfunction. Research in the Millar lab focuses on cell-cell signaling and epigenetic mechanisms that underlie these processes. In published research, we identified Wnt/beta-catenin signaling as a key pathway required for initiating the formation of ectodermal appendages from multipotent cells in mammalian embryos, and in controlling development and patterning of haired versus hairy skin. By analyzing genetic mouse models and tissues from human patients carrying mutations in the WNT10A gene, we showed that Wnt signaling plays key roles in regulating the functions of a wide variety of adult epithelial stem cells, as well as controlling specialized differentiation programs in palmoplantar skin. We have also identified critical functions for epigenetic regulators including micro-RNAs and chromatin modifiers in skin development and regeneration. Ongoing research interests include: - Investigating mechanisms that cause ectodermal dysplasia in patients with mutations in the WNT10A gene and testing potential therapeutic strategies - Determining the mechanisms that underlie the formation and maintenance of hairy versus hairless skin and regulate hair patterning - Delineating the functions of histone deacetylase chromatin modifiers in skin development, stem cells and cancer - Identifying pioneer transcription factors that control development and stem cell activity in skin and oral epithelia For more detailed information please visit the Millar lab website: labs.icahn.mssm.edu/millarlab/
Publications
https://plu.mx/mtsinai/u/smillar
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Millar did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2020 and/or 2021: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.