https://benhampylelab.org/research daily 0.75 2025-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/a05a4f61-268c-4c61-86d7-85519cdb37a2/Research.001.png Research - Transient Regeneration-Activated Cell States (TRACS) Our previous work used a whole animal single cell sequencing strategy to identify three tissues that significantly alter their transcriptional output during planarian regeneration. In the muscle, a subset of anterior facing cells activate genes important for patterning and stem cell proliferation near the wound. In the epidermis, two different cell types express genes important for wound healing and stem cell maintenance. And finally, in the intestine, basal outer cells express genes important for stem cell proliferation and enterocytes express genes important for tissue remodeling. Importantly, these wound-induced cellular states are activated independent of stem cell proliferation. We named them Transient Regeneration-Activated Cell States (TRACS). Future work will determine what signaling pathways and cell types are regulated by TRACS and what role TRACS play in regeneration and repair of other types of injuries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/dbe56818-e164-4da1-93a5-5cdbc40d87a0/Research.002.png Research - Integration of animal health, the environment, and behavior Planarian flatworms need to decide when to produce clonal progeny by asexual reproduction (fission). Fission rates are dependent on nutrition, size, environmental cues like temperature and mechanical forces, and the underlying regenerative capacity of the animal. We are interested in discovering how the animal senses the optimal conditions for asexual reproduction and translates that stimuli into a behavioral output. How do diverse organ systems across the animal communicate with the central nervous system to ensure that asexual reproduction is successful? https://benhampylelab.org/ourteam daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/f024a759-c6af-4293-81c4-ddf3e051b75b/IMG_1512.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/56172e51-7684-42cb-ba45-c0611fd6b431/Benham-Pyle%2C+Blair+W_8b.jpg Our Team - Blair Benham-Pyle, PhD Principal Investigator Blair completed her PhD at Stanford University with W. James Nelson and Beth Pruitt, studying how cell-cell adhesions translate mechanical force into cell behavior. She then moved to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, where she completed her postdoctoral work with Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado studying the mechanisms by which post-mitotic cells regulate regeneration, scaling, and behavior. She joined Baylor College of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2022. Science Joys: Beautiful data communication, fluorescent cells through microscopes, story-telling Non-Science Joys: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Volleyball, Meditation, Dinner Parties with Friends Personal Twitter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/22968794-9db6-42d7-a9b7-7e6e408b1469/IMG_6413_2.JPG Our Team - Asia Drenon Lab Manager and Research Technician Asia completed her B.S in Biology at Grambling State University and is currently in the process of pursuing an MSc. in Medical Laboratory Science. Asia enjoys exploring and learning complex laboratory techniques and contributing to the advancement of stem cell research. She is excited to be working with planarian flatworms, with a special interest in how their biology can be used to achieve regenerative effects in the human body. During her leisure time, Asia enjoys hand lettering and calligraphy, swimming, and playing beach volleyball with family and friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/dce25d0d-582f-4e03-88c1-dada8a0bc008/Amit_Headshot.jpeg Our Team - Amit Dubey, PhD Postdoctoral Associate Amit is passionate and curious about stem cell research and is always ready to accept new challenges. As a master's student, he worked on Embryonic and Mesenchymal Stem Cells. After his master’s he developed skills in Human placenta-derived stem cells, their development in a hypoxic environment, and the function of Rab11, an Intracellular protein in drosophila intestinal stem cell differentiation. For his Ph.D. at the University of Sherbrooke, he worked with mouse Intestinal stem cells and used intestinal organoid models to decipher early aging and stem cell differentiation upon deletion of p53. During his Postdoc Amit will explore the molecular mechanisms of aging and regenerative capacity in Planarian stem cells. In his spare time, Amit enjoys writing poetry, reading, and cooking. He also loves to travel, get close to nature, and go on adventures when he gets a chance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/c9ddabee-57cb-44d7-b9c5-137d819f284a/Unknown-2.jpg Our Team - Jake Chamblee Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics NSF Graduate Research Fellow 2024 - 2027 Jake completed his B.S. in Genetics at Texas A&M University while studying bacteriophage and their lysis systems in the Ry Young lab. After graduation, he helped develop phage-based antimicrobials at a biotech company in Baltimore, Maryland. He eventually returned to Ry Young’s lab and the Center for Phage Technology, where he identified and characterized the proteins used by transposable bacteriophage Mu to explosively lyse its host cells. He then enrolled in BCM’s Genetics & Genomics graduate program and joined the Benham-Pyle lab in Spring 2023. He loves learning fundamental biology from unusual and bizarre organisms, which made planarian flatworms and the Benham-Pyle lab a natural fit. His non-scientific interests include indoor and outdoor rock climbing, programming, heavy metal, and trying new foods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/6b83d1aa-29a7-43c2-aa06-2caab67b013b/Screenshot+2024-04-23+at+11.20.40+AM.png Our Team - Andrea Rauschmayer Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics Andrea completed her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Washington. During this time she studied the role of the polarity protein Crumbs in tube formation and elongation using Drosophila melanogaster dorsal appendage formation as a model. Following graduation, Andrea enrolled in the Genetics & Genomics program at BCM and joined the Benham-Pyle Lab in 2024. Her project explores the neural circuits underlying planarians' ability to detect and process internal and external cues and couple them to fissioning behavior. Outside of the lab, Andrea enjoys reading and writing (especially sci-fi and fantasy), cooking, and exploring Houston. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/85d8ba3d-4429-4602-8ef8-162b2a2c7214/Screenshot+2024-03-18+at+10.07.40+PM.png Our Team - Osvaldo Kevin Moreno Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics Hello! My name is Osvaldo Kevin Moreno, but I like to go by Kevin. I am originally from Santa Maria, CA. I went to the University of California, Santa Barbara, for my undergraduate degree and San Francisco State University for my master’s degree. My master’s thesis involved elucidating the molecular mechanism by which Kaposi’s associated herpesvirus regulates metabolic and apoptotic pathways. Specifically, I focused on the role of a viral GPCR (vGPCR) in modulating cell survival. My main interests revolve around aging and stem cell biology. In the Benham-Pyle lab, my project involves determining if and how Transient Regeneration Activated Cell States (TRACS) reprogram planarian stem cells to promote potency and anti-aging. Outside the lab, I enjoy pickleball, video games, anime, and the gun range. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/e1121e63-fa71-4ccf-8a0f-5f3b738610a9/PHOTO-2024-06-11-22-55-15.jpg Our Team - Britya Ghosh Graduate Student, Neuroscience American Heart Association Fellow Britya is fascinated by the sensory nervous system. She hopes to understand the mechanisms of pressure sensing in mammals and in regenerative organisms (planarians!). She discovered her passion for Neuroscience quite unexpectedly during her undergrad summer internship, which eventually led her to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience. She moved to Houston to work as a research assistant at BCM, where she became interested in understanding the role of pressure sensing mediated by Piezo ion channels in the peripheral organs. Currently, Britya is a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Kara Marshall and is working in close collaboration with Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle to discover the role of mechanosensory ion channels in planaria. Before this, Britya received her bachelor’s degree in engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, in India. She also pursued her MSc thesis in the lab of Dr. Mike Gordon at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. There, she helped discover the taste receptors that mediate attraction toward lactic acid in Drosophila melanogaster and worked with Dr. Ben Matthews to study homologous receptors in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Science joys: appreciating and analyzing spreadsheets of data and making color-coordinated graphs. Non-science joys: painting; cooking and ingesting good food: and occasionally running outdoors when the Houston weather permits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/3af046d5-93e6-4c10-bd68-17f915982b36/BBP_Lab_Photo_Jingyue_Wu+copy.jpeg Our Team - Jingyue Wu Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics Jingyue completed her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The Pennsylvania State University—University Park and her M.S. in Systems Medicine at Georgetown University. Prior to enrolling in the Genetics and Genomics program at BCM, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Raja Mazumder’s HIVE Lab at The George Washington University, where she contributed to the development of GlyGen—a computational and informatics database for glycoscience. Jingyue joined the Benham-Pyle Lab in spring 2025, where she studies how planarian flatworms achieve whole-body regeneration. Her research focuses on TRACS and their role in coordinating stem cell behavior through intercellular signaling, integrating single-cell genomics with structure-based protein modeling to uncover the regulatory and signaling mechanisms that drive regeneration. Outside of the lab, Jingyue enjoys reading (especially Agatha Christie), arranging flowers, and solving 1000+ piece jigsaw puzzles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/24624115-b494-4b3b-ba4e-e2991d900d98/processed-8E2F346B-6F24-41F8-8B26-53F371672EF9.jpeg Our Team - Haleigh Madison Brownlee Research Technician, BCM PREP Scholar Haleigh is a post-baccalaureate student in the BCM PREP Program, preparing to enter an M.D. or Ph.D. program. She earned her B.S. in Aerospace Physiology with a minor in Chemistry at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. There she conducted research on the phenotypic effects of microgravity on the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. In the Benham-Pyle lab, she will continue to explore the effects of extreme environments on biological systems by studying the effects of different doses of ionizing radiation on regeneration and stem cell function in planarians. Haleigh’s interests outside of science include scuba diving, fitness, house music/music festivals, and trying new foods! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/9ce19861-e5b3-4f6b-9d38-34e45413ad05/IMG_1389.jpeg Our Team - Yamin Ramadi Undergraduate Researcher Yamin is an undergraduate student at Rice University, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Sociology. He is excited to join the Benham‑Pyle Lab to study planarian flatworms and deepen his understanding of stem cell biology. Previously, he has volunteered as a medical advisor and gained experience shadowing research in cellular biology and genetics. Outside of the lab, Yamin enjoys hiking, swimming, and playing pickleball. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/ee9fc1f6-960d-4821-9f21-3572ebb86ea5/IMG_6040.jpg Our Team - Niru Mahadev Undergraduate Researcher Niru is an undergraduate student at Rice University pursuing a B.S. in Biosciences, with a concentration in Cell Biology/Genetics and a minor in Spanish. She is interested in internal medicine and oncology and plans to pursue an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. In the Benham-Pyle Lab, she is studying how Activin signaling influences regeneration in planarians after DNA damage, with a focus on understanding how injury-response pathways regulate stem cell behavior. In her free time, Niru enjoys volunteering, singing, traveling, and sewing! She's always open to trying new things and finding new hobbies. https://benhampylelab.org/home daily 1.0 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/a8d21b19-d6b6-4788-af53-212778f3f7c0/Images.005.png Home fluorescence images of different cells types and tissues in the planarian body plan https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/f137663c-7aea-4d39-886b-685e45fea2d5/Images.004.png Home Fluorescent images of wound induced transcriptional states. some are close to the wound site in the cut tail fragment, while others are spread through the planarian gut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/b37f5f21-804a-42f5-8f4f-272fb6448d4b/Images.003.png Home Regeneration time course 1 to 7 days post regeneration, imaging either the planarian central nervous system or the planarian intestine. Both tissues rescale and remodel over one week to fit the smaller, regenerated body plan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/b0178ec0-495d-4b59-9238-70791b939a67/Images.002.png Home Regeneration time course showing planarian stem cell in yellow and mitotic cells in magenta. at early timepoints during regeneration, stem cells are densely packed near the wound and there are large numbers of mitotic cells. At later timepoints, stem cells are distributed and new tissues growing out from the stem cells are obvious. https://benhampylelab.org/joinus daily 0.75 2024-04-23 https://benhampylelab.org/publications daily 0.75 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/6787d774-a103-401e-b82f-3f6643ef0865/fx1_lrg.jpg Publications - Leveraging Spatial Transcriptomics and Electron Microscopy to Define Stem Cell Micro-environments in vivo: Mann FG, Brewster CE, D. Vuu, Dewars ER, Nien S, Guerrero-Hernández C, Morrison JA, Maddera LE, McClain ML, Hall KE, Malloy S, Chen S, Slaughter BD, S. McKinney, Perera A, Nowotarski SH, Benham-Pyle BW†, Sánchez Alvarado A†, Molecular and cellular characterization of planarian stem cell microenvironments. Cell Reports Oct 25:116401 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116401 Highlighted in: Andrea Lius, Flatworm Stem Cells Regenerate through contactless communication. The Scientist https://www.the-scientist.com/flatworm-stem-cells-regenerate-through-contactless-communication-73613 Image Credit: Designed and illustrated by Mol Mir and copyrighted by Cell Reports https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/208effd6-3420-495e-ab5b-39ed0b1d77ad/Screenshot+2026-02-27+at+12.18.19%E2%80%AFPM.png Publications - Defining a heterogeneous, metabolically active, and potentially secretory TRACS: Kent A, Guerrero-Hernández C, Brewster C, McKinney S, Morrison JA, McKinney S, Ross EJ, Mann FG, Benham-Pyle BW, Sánchez Alvarado A. Metabolites produced by agat+ cells support regeneration in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Developmental Biology Oct 6; 529:106-120 (2025) DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2025.10.001 Image Credit: Designed and illustrated by Mol Mir and copyrighted by Developmental Biology/Elsevier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/9b4c8c1d-fd77-4c8a-a232-1415ba64ddc9/Screenshot+2026-02-27+at+12.06.09%E2%80%AFPM.png Publications - Identification and characterization of Transient Regeneration Activated Cell States (TRACS) using scRNAseq: Benham-Pyle BW, Brewster CE, Kent AM, Mann Jr. FG, Chen S, Scott AR, Box AC, Sánchez Alvarado A, Identification of rare, transient post-mitotic cell states that are induced by injury and required for whole-body regeneration in Schmidtea mediterranea. Nature Cell Biology 23, 939-952 (2021) DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00734-6 Highlighted in: Fuchs E & Ellis SJ, Stem cell progeny liasons in regeneration. Nature Cell Biology 23, 932-933 (2021) DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00751-5 Pre-printed as: Benham-Pyle BW, Brewster CE, Kent AM, Mann FG, Chen S, Scott AR, Box AR, Sánchez Alvarado A, Identification of rare transient somatic cell states induced by injury and required for whole-body regeneration. BioRxiv (2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.04.132753 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61aa8593297cd958de91465a/a2e4fef6-c5c4-4183-937e-8f107b225cce/Screenshot+2026-02-27+at+12.18.31%E2%80%AFPM.png Publications - Planarian asexual reproduction is a size-dependent behavior regulated by the central nervous system: Arnold CP*, Benham-Pyle BW*, Lange JJ, Wood CJ, Sánchez Alvarado A, Wnt and TGFβ coordinate growth and patterning to regulate size-dependent behavior. Nature 7, 1-5 (2019)DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1478-7 Highlighted in: Holstein, TW. What makes Flatworms go to pieces.Nature News and Views (2019) DOI: 10.1038/d41586-019-02376-z Image Credit: Design and Copyright by Nature Publishing