The most common birth defects in the world are of the reproductive tract. Hypospadias is a malformation of the penis, where the urethra does not exit at the tip, but will exit somewhere along the shaft of the penis. Hypospadias surgeries are notoriously difficult and are often accompanied with complications, especially in severe cases. Approximately 1:125 male newborns are both with hypospadias, with over 70% of cases having unknown etiology. Although hypospadias is the second most common birth defect in the United States, it is drastically understudied. We are still uncovering the novel cell populations and their functions during in normal urethra closure. 

The Amato lab uses mice as a model organism to investigate the developmental origins of hypospadias. By combining genetically modified mice, next generation sequencing, and ex-vivo culture systems, the lab aims to develop a functional cell atlas of the developing penis. With a clear idea of the necessary signaling cues and gene expression within the distinct cell populations, they can begin to develop ways to improve surgical corrections of hypospadias, or maybe one day prevent it all together.