Virginia E. Papaioannou

Research Throughout her career, she has focused on the genetic control of early mammalian development, from the first cleavage of the fertilized zygote through implantation, gastrulation, and early organogenesis. Papaioannou has extensively studied the T-box gene family, which plays a crucial role in mesoderm formation and organogenesis. Her research led to significant insights into developmental birth defects, producing mouse models for human syndromes such as DiGeorge syndrome (TBX1) and ulnar mammary syndrome (TBX3). Her work has been important for understanding how these genes control cell fate and tissue specification during early development.

Personal life She is married to Sir Simon Schama, an English historian and television presenter; they have two children. In 2014, Schama was living in Briarcliff Manor, New York.

Selected publications

Honors and awards Her contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the NIH MERIT award and the Dean's Distinguished Lecture in the Basic Sciences at Columbia University.