The Center for Organogenesis (CFO)

Gary D. Hammer, M.D., Ph.D., Millie Schembechler Professor of Adrenal Cancer, has been appointed as Director of the Center for Organogenesis. He is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, and of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, and also serves as the Director of the Endocrine Oncology Destination Program in the Comprehensive Cancer Center. He brings both basic science and clinical research perspectives to his new role, as well as an understanding of the practice of medicine and management of interdepartmental groups. Under Dr. Hammer's leadership, the Center will continue to support outstanding basic research conducted by its faculty and trainees, and will seek to position itself as a leader in translational research.

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We are composed of an intercollegiate and interdisciplinary group of scientists at the University of Michigan whose work is directed at a common goal: to understand the basic mechanisms by which organs and tissues are formed and maintained, and to use this knowledge to create long lasting artificial organs, stem cell therapies or organ transplantation systems that will correct genetic and acquired diseases. The mission of the Center is to establish and maintain an infrastructure for the study of organogenesis at the University of Michigan by:

  • Enhancing communication and information exchange among investigation (in basic, clinical and applied sciences) engaged in organogenesis-related research.
  • Increasing the number and scope of interdisciplinary research projects in organogenesis.
  • Enhancing the Core Facilities necessary for the performance of this research; ensuring that these essential Core services are available to investigators at the lowest possible cost.
  • Designing strategies to expose students (undergraduate, graduate) and postdoctoral fellows to research that requires interdisciplinary approaches to the problems of organogenesis.

The Center was established through a grant from the Presidential Initiatives Fund (Office of the President, University of Michigan) and through generous additional support from the Office of the Dean, Medical School.