Professor Tanya Whitfield
School of Biosciences
Professor of Developmental Biology
t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2350
+44 114 222 2350
C21, Firth Court
Full contact details
Professor Tanya Whitfield
School of Biosciences
C21
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
School of Biosciences
C21
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
- Profile
-
- 2016-present: Professor of Developmental Biology, University of Sheffield.
- 2013-2015: Reader in Developmental Biology, University of Sheffield.
- 2004-2012: Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield.
- 1997-2004: Lecturer, University of Sheffield.
- 1994-1997: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellow and Linacre College Junior Research Fellow, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Oxford, and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. Research Advisor: Dr Julian Lewis.
- 1994: EMBO Short Term Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany. Research Advisor: Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard.
- 1992-1994: Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
- 1989-1992: Wellcome PhD student, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
- 1986-1989: BA Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge.
Whitfield lab blog: https://whitfield-lab-news.blogspot.com/
New chapter now out!
Whitfield TT (2025). Development of the semicircular canals and otolithic organs of the vertebrate inner ear. Current Topics inDevelopmental Biology, in press. Free to download until July: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1l8PbFzn7WIEK
Development, Regeneration and Neurophysiology Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drn-sheffield.bsky.socialSelf-funded PhD projects are available in the lab. Please see the School of Biosciences PhD Opportunities page(https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate/phd), and search for Supervisor: Whitfield
- Qualifications
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https://bsky.app/profile/drn-sheffield.bsky.socialhttps://www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate/phdhttps://www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate/phd
- Research interests
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The Whitfield lab research programme seeks to understand the development and function of vertebrate sensory systems, using the zebrafish as a model system. Our interests lie in tackling curiosity-driven basic science questions, addressing issues such as cell fate choice, pattern formation and the generation of shape and form in developing placodally-derived sensory organs (the inner ear, lateral line and olfactory system).
A major focus is patterning and morphogenesis of the developing inner ear, specifically the development of the semicircular canal ducts, which function to detect rotational movements (angular acceleration) of the head, and so contribute to our sense of balance. Significant recent findings include identification of key signalling pathways in the ear, and development of bespoke imaging tools.
A second, interlinked research theme is analysis of the Adgrg6 signalling pathway and drug discovery. Adgrg6 is a human disease gene, and the zebrafish protein has roles both in the inner ear and in peripheral myelination. We are using the zebrafish embryo as a screening platform to identify small molecules to manipulate the Adgrg6 pathway with high specificity and efficacy, including those that could be developed as therapeutic tools.
Other recent or ongoing projects include the study of otolith formation, otic cilia, axial patterning of the otic placode, otic neurogenesis, and olfactory rod cells. In addition, we study the zebrafish ear and lateral line as a model for human deafness and vestibular disease, including studies of drug discovery and drug ototoxicity.
Work in the lab is currently funded by:
EPSRC - https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/
Wellcome Trust - https://wellcome.org/
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Presence of chondroitin sulphate and requirement for heparan sulphate biosynthesis in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
- Origami: single-cell 3D shape dynamics oriented along the apico-basal axis of folding epithelia from fluorescence microscopy data. PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11). View this article in WRRO
- The adhesion GPCR Adgrg6 (Gpr126): Insights from the zebrafish model. genesis, 59(4). View this article in WRRO
- Olfactory rod cells : a rare cell type in the larval zebrafish olfactory epithelium with a large actin-rich apical projection. Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
- Cilia in the developing zebrafish ear. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792). View this article in WRRO
- Identification of compounds that rescue otic and myelination defects in the zebrafish adgrg6 (gpr126) mutant. Elife, 8. View this article in WRRO
- Anteroposterior patterning of the zebrafish ear through Fgf- and Hh-dependent regulation of hmx3a expression. PLOS Genetics, 15(4). View this article in WRRO
- Sculpting the labyrinth: Morphogenesis of the developing inner ear.. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology . View this article in WRRO
- Semicircular canal morphogenesis in the zebrafish inner ear requires the function of gpr126 (lauscher), an adhesion class G protein-coupled receptor gene.. Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.
All publications
Journal articles
- A screen of pharmacologically active compounds to identify modulators of the Adgrg6/Gpr126 signalling pathway in zebrafish embryos. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 133(4), 364-377.
- Enhancer trap lines with GFP driven by smad6b and frizzled1 regulatory sequences for the study of epithelial morphogenesis in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Journal of Anatomy. View this article in WRRO
- Presence of chondroitin sulphate and requirement for heparan sulphate biosynthesis in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
- Morphological, behavioral and cellular analyses revealed different phenotypes in Wolfram syndrome wfs1a and wfs1b zebrafish mutant lines. Human Molecular Genetics, 31(16), 2711-2727. View this article in WRRO
- Origami: single-cell 3D shape dynamics oriented along the apico-basal axis of folding epithelia from fluorescence microscopy data. PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11). View this article in WRRO
- Identification of a novel series of hair-cell MET channel blockers that protect against aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. JCI Insight, 6(7).
- The adhesion GPCR Adgrg6 (Gpr126): Insights from the zebrafish model. genesis, 59(4). View this article in WRRO
- Olfactory rod cells : a rare cell type in the larval zebrafish olfactory epithelium with a large actin-rich apical projection. Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
- Cilia in the developing zebrafish ear. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792). View this article in WRRO
- Identification of compounds that rescue otic and myelination defects in the zebrafish adgrg6 (gpr126) mutant. Elife, 8. View this article in WRRO
- Anteroposterior patterning of the zebrafish ear through Fgf- and Hh-dependent regulation of hmx3a expression. PLOS Genetics, 15(4). View this article in WRRO
- Identification of ion-channel modulators that protect against aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death. JCI Insight, 2(24). View this article in WRRO
- Sculpting the labyrinth: Morphogenesis of the developing inner ear.. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology . View this article in WRRO
- Methods to study the development, anatomy, and function of the zebrafish inner ear across the life course. Methods in Cell Biology, 134, 165-209. View this article in WRRO
- Development of the inner ear. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 32, 112-118.
- Otolith tethering in the zebrafish otic vesicle requires Otogelin and -Tectorin. Development, 142(6), 1137-1145.
- RA and FGF Signalling Are Required in the Zebrafish Otic Vesicle to Pattern and Maintain Ventral Otic Identities. PLoS Genetics, 10(12), ---.
- Sensational placodes: neurogenesis in the otic and olfactory systems.. Dev Biol, 389(1), 50-67.
- Julian Hart Lewis, FRS (1946-2014) Obituary. DEVELOPMENTAL CELL, 29(5), 507-509.
- Semicircular canal morphogenesis in the zebrafish inner ear requires the function of gpr126 (lauscher), an adhesion class G protein-coupled receptor gene.. Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.
- Shedding new light on the origins of olfactory neurons.. Elife, 2, e00648.
- The role of cilia and ciliary motility in otolith formation in the zebrafish embryo. Cilia, 1(S1).
- Ototoxin-induced cellular damage in neuromasts disrupts lateral line function in larval zebrafish. Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 66(2), 163-163.
- The role of hair cells, cilia and ciliary motility in otolith formation in the zebrafish otic vesicle.. Development, 139(10), 1777-1787.
- Ototoxin-induced cellular damage in neuromasts disrupts lateral line function in larval zebrafish. Hearing Research, 284(1-2), 67-81.
- Fgf and Hh signalling act on a symmetrical pre-pattern to specify anterior and posterior identity in the zebrafish otic placode and vesicle.. Development, 138(18), 3977-3987.
- Functional and developmental expression of a zebrafish Kir1.1 (ROMK) potassium channel homologue Kcnj1.. J Physiol, 589(Pt 6), 1489-1503.
- Repression of Hedgehog signalling is required for the acquisition of dorsolateral cell fates in the zebrafish otic vesicle.. Development, 137(8), 1361-1371.
- Nkcc1 (Slc12a2) is required for the regulation of endolymph volume in the otic vesicle and swim bladder volume in the zebrafish larva.. Development, 136(16), 2837-2848.
- Expression of zebrafish hip: response to Hedgehog signalling, comparison with ptc1 expression, and possible role in otic patterning.. Gene Expr Patterns, 9(6), 391-396.
- A late role for bmp2b in the morphogenesis of semicircular canal ducts in the zebrafish inner ear.. PLoS One, 4(2), e4368.
- Expression of patched, prdm1 and engrailed in the lamprey somite reveals conserved responses to Hedgehog signaling.. Evol Dev, 11(1), 27-40.
- A zebrafish model for Waardenburg syndrome type IV reveals diverse roles for Sox10 in the otic vesicle. DIS MODEL MECH, 2(1-2), 68-83.
- Axial patterning in the developing vertebrate inner ear.. Int J Dev Biol, 51(6-7), 507-520.
- From DNA to diversity: molecular genetics and the evolution of animal design (2nd ed.). Heredity, 96(4), 335-335.
- The developing lamprey ear closely resembles the zebrafish otic vesicle: otx1 expression can account for all major patterning differences.. Development, 133(7), 1347-1357.
- Models of congenital deafness: Mouse and zebrafish. Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models, 2(2), 85-92.
- Lateral line: precocious phenotypes and planar polarity.. Curr Biol, 15(2), R67-R70.
- The zebrafish dog-eared mutation disrupts eya1, a gene required for cell survival and differentiation in the inner ear and lateral line. DEV BIOL, 277(1), 27-41.
- Hedgehog signalling is required for correct anteroposterior patterning of the zebrafish otic vesicle.. Development, 130(7), 1403-1417.
- Zebrafish as a model for hearing and deafness.. J Neurobiol, 53(2), 157-171.
- Development of the zebrafish inner ear.. Dev Dyn, 223(4), 427-458.
- Isolation of three zebrafish dachshund homologues and their expression in sensory organs, the central nervous system and pectoral fin buds.. Mech Dev, 112(1-2), 183-189.
- Expression of BMP signalling pathway members in the developing zebrafish inner ear and lateral line.. Mech Dev, 108(1-2), 179-184.
- Zebrafish sparse corresponds to an orthologue of c-kit and is required for the morphogenesis of a subpopulation of melanocytes, but is not essential for hematopoiesis or primordial germ cell development. Development, 126(15), 3425-3436.
- Hair cells without supporting cells: further studies in the ear of the zebrafish mind bomb mutant. Journal of Neurocytology, 28, 837-850.
- . Journal of Neurocytology, 28(10/11), 837-850.
- Intercellular signals and cell-fate choices in the developing inner ear: origins of global and of fine-grained pattern. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 8(3), 239-247.
- Mutations affecting development of the zebrafish inner ear and lateral line. Development, 123(1), 241-254.
- Early Embryonic Expression of XLPOU-60, a Xenopus POU-Domain Protein. Developmental Biology, 169(2), 759-769.
- Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay in Xenopus Oocytes and Embryos. Developmental Biology, 165(2), 731-734.
- XLPOU-60, a Xenopus POU-Domain mRNA, Is Oocyte-Specific from Very Early Stages of Oogenesis, and Localised to Presumptive Mesoderm and Ectoderm in the Blastula. Developmental Biology, 155(2), 361-370.
Chapters
- Development of the semicircular canals and otolithic organs of the vertebrate inner ear In Whitfield T (Ed.), Current Topics in Developmental Biology Elsevier
- Zebrafish inner ear development and function In Romand R & Varela-Nieto I (Ed.), Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Academic Press (Elsevier) View this article in WRRO
- Zebrafish Inner Ear Development and Function, Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Elsevier
- 4 The zebrafish inner ear, Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Elsevier
- The Zebrafish Inner Ear In Perry SF, Ekker M, Farrell AP & Brauner CJ (Ed.), Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Academic Press
Conference proceedings papers
- Making and breaking symmetry in the zebrafish otic placode. Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 145 (pp S23-S23)
- 09-P016 Repression of Hedgehog signalling is required for the acquisition of dorsolateral cell fates in the zebrafish otic vesicle. Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S155-S155)
- 09-P020 Nkcc1/Slc12a2 is required for the regulation of endolymph in the otic vesicle and volume of the swim bladder in the zebrafish larva. Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S156-S156)
- The zebrafish as an invivo model of drug-induced hearing and vestibular impairment. MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S330-S330)
- 03-P076 Development of semicircular canals in the zebrafish inner ear. Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S89-S89)
- Development of the endolymphatic duct and regulation of endolymph production in the zebrafish otic vesicle. MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S171-S172)
Posters
- 'Exploring the curves of the zebrafish inner ear'.
Preprints
- Paired and solitary ionocytes in the zebrafish olfactory epithelium, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Anteroposterior patterning of the zebrafish ear through Fgf- and Hh-dependent regulation ofhmx3aexpression, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Presence of chondroitin sulphate and requirement for heparan sulphate biosynthesis in the developing zebrafish inner ear. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
- Research group
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Research Group Members:
- Mr Aaron Bailiff, Research Technician and PhD student, a.bailiff@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Sarah Baxendale, Research Fellow, S.Baxendale@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Nick van Hateren, Postdoc, n.j.van-hateren@sheffield.ac.uk
- Mr Ethan Giles, PhD student, EFGiles1@sheffield.ac.uk
- Ms Nahal Shahidan, PhD student, noshahidan1@sheffield.ac.uk
- Dr Haseeb Qureshi, Postdoc, h.k.qureshi@sheffield.ac.uk
Lab alumni
- Dr Anzar Asad
- Dr Mar Marzo
- Dr Davide Baldera
- Dr Elvira Diamantopoulou
- Dr Tania Mendonca
- Dr Ryan Hartwell
- Dr Sarah Burbridge
- Dr Esther Maier
- Dr Georgina Stooke-Vaughan
- Dr Lauren Buck
- Dr Fan-Suo Geng
- Dr Bernardo Blanco-Sánchez
- Dr Giuliano Giuliani
- Dr Leila Abbas
- Dr Kate Hammond
- Mrs Joanne Spencer
- Ms Helen Loynes
- Ms Lucy Smith
- Dr Catriona Mowbray
- Ms C. J. Holdsworth
- Dr King Yee Cheung
- Dr Ana A. Jones
PhD, postdoc, fellowship and undergraduate summer project opportunities:
We welcome enquiries from anyone interested in joining the lab, including enquiries from self-funded students.
Please email Tanya Whitfield (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk) for more information.
Specific PhD projects, postdoc, fellowship and other opportunities will be posted here in the PhD Project Directory when positions are available. You can limit your search by Supervisor.
- Grants
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- The Wellcome Trust https://wellcome.org/
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council https://www.ukri.org/councils/bbsrc/
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council https://www.ukri.org/councils/epsrc/
- Teaching activities
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Undergraduate:
- BIS302 Level 3 Literature Review
- BIS303 Level 3 'Patients as Educators' Research Project'
- BIS4102 Level 4 Literature Review
- BIS4103 Level 4 Laboratory Research Project
- Academic Tutor to undergraduates at all Levels
MSc taught programmes:
- BIS405 MSc Literature Review
- BIS456 MSc Laboratory Research Project
- BIS454 Practical Developmental Genetics (Module co-ordinator, with F. van Eeden)