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Kenneth Daniel Poss

James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Regenerative Biology
Cell Biology
Duke Box 3709, Durham, NC 27710
307 Research Drive, Nanaline Bldg Room 466 A, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Modeling disease in zebrafish
Genetic approaches to organ regeneration
Cardiac regeneration
Appendage regeneration
Developmental biology

Current Appointments & Affiliations


James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Regenerative Biology · 2025 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Professor Emeritus of Cell Biology · 2025 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2018 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published December 13, 2022
Gene Therapy for Heart Attacks in Mice Just Got More Precise
Published December 13, 2019
Salamanders Can Regrow Limbs. Why Can't I?
Published November 26, 2019
Seven From Duke Named Fellows of American Association for the Advancement of Science

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Recent Publications


Epicardial Tcf21 facilitates cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation and heart regeneration in zebrafish.

Journal Article Dev Biol · February 2026 Unlike mammals, zebrafish (Danio rerio) are able to regenerate their hearts after injury, making them an excellent model organism for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying heart regeneration. Epicardium, the outermost layer of the heart, is an essen ... Full text Link to item Cite

Signal control during tissue regeneration in adult animals.

Journal Article Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol · November 11, 2025 Tissue regeneration has historically been the subject of intense scientific scrutiny, from basic biology to applications in regenerative medicine. Use of model organisms and cutting-edge technologies have uncovered various mechanisms of regeneration, but u ... Full text Link to item Cite

Ddx61-enriched condensates refine heart regeneration programs.

Journal Article Nat Commun · October 9, 2025 Gene regulatory mechanisms that underlie tissue regeneration have been largely studied at the level of transcription. Here, proximity labeling methods identify increased presence of the RNA helicase and P-body marker Ddx61 in adult zebrafish cardiomyocytes ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


iPediHeart: Interdisciplinary Research Training Program for Pediatric Heart Disease

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Advanced Immunobiology Traning Program for Surgeons

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2019 - 2029

Mechanism of epidermal coordination during development and regeneration in zebrafish

ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases · 2023 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 1998 Ph.D.