Skip to main content
Back to King's College London homepage

The Tucker lab is interested in development and repair of the head with focus on tissues associated with the jaw and ear. Formation of these structures involves complex interactions that drive coordinated growth and form. The lab addresses questions relating to human health and to the evolution of cranial structures.

Tucker Lab

People

Neal  Anthwal

Research Associate

Hiba Asrar

PhD Student

Juan Fons Romero

Research Associate

Mona  Mozaffari

MRC Clinical Research Training Fellow

Projects

Murine ear drum with endoderm and blood vessels in pink
Middle ear development

Since 2003 the Tucker Laboratory has been researching how the middle ear forms during normal development and what goes wrong in cases of conductive hearing loss. This work is currently funded by The Medical Research Council (MRC) & Wellcome Trust (Senior Investigator Award). In addition, the laboratory has been investigating the evolution of the unique mammalian middle ear using a comparison of placental, marsupial and monotreme mammals. Most recently, we have been studying problems associated with cavitation of the middle ear and the genetics behind middle ear inflammation (Otitis Media). The Tucker Laboratory has been investigating mice that have a genetic disposition to OM, to stimulate novel treatments and preventative methods. In addition we have been investigating how structures in the middle ear repair after injury. Our interest in the middle ear has led to collaborations with the ear surgeons and radiologists at St Thomas’ Hospital to understand the key clinically driven questions, funded by a grant from Action on Hearing Loss.

    Sox2 stem/progenitor cells (pink) in the embryonic snake jaw
    Tooth development and replacement

    The laboratory is interested in the genes and signalling interactions involved in controlling tooth shape, number and replacement capability. Currently, the lab is concentrating on A) how the tooth is influenced by the surrounding tissues, B) how a second generation of teeth is created, C) how root morphology is controlled and D) the relationship between the dentition and neighbouring structures in the mouth. The lab has pioneered the use of non-model organisms to study tooth development and towards this aim established a snake colony at the Guy’s site in 2003.

      Laminin (red) highlighting the basement membrane around a developing submandibular gland
      Cranial Gland development

      The lab is interested in the development of cranial glands, including salivary glands, nasal glands and respiratory submucosal glands. We have been concentrating on the role of the Fibroblast Growth Factor signalling pathway and how interactions between the mesenchyme, epithelium, and nerves shape the developing gland and control stem/progenitor cell populations.

        Publications

          Awards

          Current grants:

          1.  Wellcome Trust Multi user equipment grant, 

          Grant holders: PI: Mathias Gautel, Co-PIs: Georgina Ellison, Abigail Tucker, Jeremy Green, Robert Knight, Rebecca Oakey, Julian Ochala, Peter Zammit, Catherine Shanahan, Martin Meyer.

          Cellular and sub-cellular sampling using laser capture micro dissection to understand disease mechanisms.

          £198,000, 01/09/2018-31/08/2023. Role Co-PI.

           

          1. Medical Research Council Project grant. Grant holder: PI Abigail Tucker

          Understanding and enhancing repair of the tympanic membrane.

          £427,580. 01/07/2018-30/06/2021. Role: PI.

           

          1. GACR (Czech Science Foundation) Project grant.

          Grant holders: PI Abigail Tucker, Co-PI Marcela Buchtova.

          Fate decisions in the dental placode: an investigation into the signaling factors that determine cell fate decisions in the early oral cavity.

          8300,000Kr (£287,000) 1/1/2018-30/12/2020. Role PI

           

          1. Action on Hearing Loss PhD Studentship Grant holder: Abigail Tucker

          An investigation of the development of the stapes, annular ligament and otosclerosis

          £79,500.00 1/10/2017 - 30/09/2020, Role Supervisor

           

          1. Wellcome Trust Multiuser equipment grant

          Grant holders: PI: Abigail Tucker, Co-PIs: Jeremy Green, Fiona Watt, Robert Knight, Chris Healy, Eileen Gentleman, Karen Liu, Paul Sharpe

          High resolution microCT

          £262,937.00 1/09/2016 - 31/08/2021 Role PI

           

          1. Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellowship

          Grant holders: Fellow Mona Mozaffari, Supervisor: Tucker

          Investigating the etiology of cholesteatoma

          £230,299.00 1/10/2017 - 30/09/2020. Role supervisor

           

          1. Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award. Grant holder: Tucker

          Consequences of the dual origin of the middle ear epithelium on function

          £836,415.00 16/06/2014 - 26/05/2020, Role PI

           

          Activities

          Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation conference
          Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation conference

          The Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative biology is organising the 13th International Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation (TMD) conference to be held in Oxford the first week of September 2019.

          Gordon conference on Craniofacial Development and Tissue regeneration
          Gordon conference on Craniofacial Development and Tissue regeneration

          Prof Tucker is Chair of the 2020 Gordon conference to be held in Lucca, Italy from the 23rd-28th February.

          People

          Neal  Anthwal

          Research Associate

          Hiba Asrar

          PhD Student

          Juan Fons Romero

          Research Associate

          Mona  Mozaffari

          MRC Clinical Research Training Fellow

          Projects

          Murine ear drum with endoderm and blood vessels in pink
          Middle ear development

          Since 2003 the Tucker Laboratory has been researching how the middle ear forms during normal development and what goes wrong in cases of conductive hearing loss. This work is currently funded by The Medical Research Council (MRC) & Wellcome Trust (Senior Investigator Award). In addition, the laboratory has been investigating the evolution of the unique mammalian middle ear using a comparison of placental, marsupial and monotreme mammals. Most recently, we have been studying problems associated with cavitation of the middle ear and the genetics behind middle ear inflammation (Otitis Media). The Tucker Laboratory has been investigating mice that have a genetic disposition to OM, to stimulate novel treatments and preventative methods. In addition we have been investigating how structures in the middle ear repair after injury. Our interest in the middle ear has led to collaborations with the ear surgeons and radiologists at St Thomas’ Hospital to understand the key clinically driven questions, funded by a grant from Action on Hearing Loss.

            Sox2 stem/progenitor cells (pink) in the embryonic snake jaw
            Tooth development and replacement

            The laboratory is interested in the genes and signalling interactions involved in controlling tooth shape, number and replacement capability. Currently, the lab is concentrating on A) how the tooth is influenced by the surrounding tissues, B) how a second generation of teeth is created, C) how root morphology is controlled and D) the relationship between the dentition and neighbouring structures in the mouth. The lab has pioneered the use of non-model organisms to study tooth development and towards this aim established a snake colony at the Guy’s site in 2003.

              Laminin (red) highlighting the basement membrane around a developing submandibular gland
              Cranial Gland development

              The lab is interested in the development of cranial glands, including salivary glands, nasal glands and respiratory submucosal glands. We have been concentrating on the role of the Fibroblast Growth Factor signalling pathway and how interactions between the mesenchyme, epithelium, and nerves shape the developing gland and control stem/progenitor cell populations.

                Publications

                  Awards

                  Current grants:

                  1.  Wellcome Trust Multi user equipment grant, 

                  Grant holders: PI: Mathias Gautel, Co-PIs: Georgina Ellison, Abigail Tucker, Jeremy Green, Robert Knight, Rebecca Oakey, Julian Ochala, Peter Zammit, Catherine Shanahan, Martin Meyer.

                  Cellular and sub-cellular sampling using laser capture micro dissection to understand disease mechanisms.

                  £198,000, 01/09/2018-31/08/2023. Role Co-PI.

                   

                  1. Medical Research Council Project grant. Grant holder: PI Abigail Tucker

                  Understanding and enhancing repair of the tympanic membrane.

                  £427,580. 01/07/2018-30/06/2021. Role: PI.

                   

                  1. GACR (Czech Science Foundation) Project grant.

                  Grant holders: PI Abigail Tucker, Co-PI Marcela Buchtova.

                  Fate decisions in the dental placode: an investigation into the signaling factors that determine cell fate decisions in the early oral cavity.

                  8300,000Kr (£287,000) 1/1/2018-30/12/2020. Role PI

                   

                  1. Action on Hearing Loss PhD Studentship Grant holder: Abigail Tucker

                  An investigation of the development of the stapes, annular ligament and otosclerosis

                  £79,500.00 1/10/2017 - 30/09/2020, Role Supervisor

                   

                  1. Wellcome Trust Multiuser equipment grant

                  Grant holders: PI: Abigail Tucker, Co-PIs: Jeremy Green, Fiona Watt, Robert Knight, Chris Healy, Eileen Gentleman, Karen Liu, Paul Sharpe

                  High resolution microCT

                  £262,937.00 1/09/2016 - 31/08/2021 Role PI

                   

                  1. Medical Research Council Clinical Training Fellowship

                  Grant holders: Fellow Mona Mozaffari, Supervisor: Tucker

                  Investigating the etiology of cholesteatoma

                  £230,299.00 1/10/2017 - 30/09/2020. Role supervisor

                   

                  1. Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award. Grant holder: Tucker

                  Consequences of the dual origin of the middle ear epithelium on function

                  £836,415.00 16/06/2014 - 26/05/2020, Role PI

                   

                  Activities

                  Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation conference
                  Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation conference

                  The Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative biology is organising the 13th International Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation (TMD) conference to be held in Oxford the first week of September 2019.

                  Gordon conference on Craniofacial Development and Tissue regeneration
                  Gordon conference on Craniofacial Development and Tissue regeneration

                  Prof Tucker is Chair of the 2020 Gordon conference to be held in Lucca, Italy from the 23rd-28th February.

                  Our Partners

                  Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague

                  Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague

                  Catholica University (PUC) in Santiago Chile

                  Catholica University (PUC) in Santiago Chile

                  Group lead

                  Contact us

                  Professor Abigail Tucker
                  Professor of Development & Evolution

                  Guy's Tower Wing
                  Guy's Hospital