Scholars@Duke
Kenneth Daniel Poss

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

Signal control during tissue regeneration in adult animals.

Journal Article Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol · April 2026 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

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
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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

Quantitative dissection of size memory during zebrafish appendage regeneration

ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2027

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Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 1998 Ph.D.

External Links

Poss Lab Department of Cell Biology