Professor Tanya Whitfield

School of Biosciences

Professor of Developmental Biology

Image of Tanya Whitfield with a plain white background.
Profile picture of Image of Tanya Whitfield with a plain white background.
t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk
C21, Firth Court

Full contact details

Professor Tanya Whitfield
School of Biosciences
C21
Firth Court
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • 2016-present: Professor of Developmental Biology, University of Sheffield.
  • 2013-2015: Reader in Developmental Biology, University of Sheffield.
  • 2004-2012: Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield.
  • 1997-2004: Lecturer, University of Sheffield.
  • 1994-1997: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral Fellow and Linacre College Junior Research Fellow, Developmental Biology Unit, University of Oxford, and Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. Research Advisor: Dr Julian Lewis.
  • 1994: EMBO Short Term Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany. Research Advisor: Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard.
  • 1992-1994: Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
  • 1989-1992: Wellcome PhD student, Department of Zoology and Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research Campaign Institute, University of Cambridge. Research Advisor: Professor Chris Wylie.
  • 1986-1989: BA Natural Sciences (Zoology), University of Cambridge.

Whitfield lab blog:


Development, Regeneration and Neurophysiology Bluesky:

PhD projects are available in the lab.  Please see the School of Biosciences PhD Opportunities page (), and search for Supervisor: Whitfield

Qualifications

Research interests

The Whitfield lab research programme seeks to understand the development and function of vertebrate sensory systems, using the zebrafish as a model system. Our interests lie in tackling curiosity-driven basic science questions, addressing issues such as cell fate choice, pattern formation and the generation of shape and form in developing placodally-derived sensory organs (the inner ear, lateral line and olfactory system).

A major focus is patterning and morphogenesis of the developing inner ear, specifically the development of the semicircular canal ducts, which function to detect rotational movements (angular acceleration) of the head, and so contribute to our sense of balance. Significant recent findings include identification of key signalling pathways in the ear, and development of bespoke imaging tools.

A second, interlinked research theme is analysis of the Adgrg6 signalling pathway and drug discovery. Adgrg6 is a human disease gene, and the zebrafish protein has roles both in the inner ear and in peripheral myelination. We are using the zebrafish embryo as a screening platform to identify small molecules to manipulate the Adgrg6 pathway with high specificity and efficacy, including those that could be developed as therapeutic tools.

Other recent or ongoing projects include the study of otolith formation, otic cilia, axial patterning of the otic placode, otic neurogenesis, and olfactory rod cells. In addition, we study the zebrafish ear and lateral line as a model for human deafness and vestibular disease, including studies of drug discovery and drug ototoxicity.

Work in the lab is currently funded by:

EPSRC -
Wellcome Trust -
 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Jones AA, Diamantopoulou E, Baxendale S & Whitfield TT (2022) . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
  • Mendonca T, Jones AA, Pozo JM, Baxendale S, Whitfield TT & Frangi AF (2021) . PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11).
  • Baxendale S, Asad A, Shahidan NO, Wiggin GR & Whitfield TT (2021) . genesis, 59(4).
  • Cheung KY, Jesuthasan SJ, Baxendale S, van Hateren NJ, Marzo M, Hill CJ & Whitfield TT (2021) . Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
  • Whitfield T (2020) . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792).
  • Diamantopoulou E, Baxendale S, de la Vega de León A, Asad A, Holdsworth CJ, Abbas L, Gillet VJ, Wiggin GR & Whitfield TT (2019) . Elife, 8.
  • Hartwell RD, England SJ, Monk NAM, van Hateren NJ, Baxendale S, Marzo M, Lewis KE & Whitfield TT (2019) . PLOS Genetics, 15(4).
  • Alsina B & Whitfield TT (2016) . Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology .
  • Geng F-S, Abbas L, Baxendale S, Holdsworth CJ, Swanson AG, Slanchev K, Hammerschmidt M, Topczewski J & Whitfield TT (2013) . Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Peloggia J, Cheung Y, Petkova MD, Schalek R, Boulanger-Weill J, Wu Y, Wang S, van Hateren NJ, Januszewski M, Jain V , Lichtman JW et al (2025) . Chemical Senses, 50.
  • Asad A, Shahidan NO, de la Vega de León A, Wiggin GR, Whitfield TT & Baxendale S (2023) . Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 133(4), 364-377.
  • Baldera D, Baxendale S, van Hateren NJ, Marzo M, Glendenning E, Geng F, Yokoya K, Knight RD & Whitfield TT (2023) . Journal of Anatomy, 243(1), 78-89.
  • Jones AA, Diamantopoulou E, Baxendale S & Whitfield TT (2022) . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10.
  • Crouzier L, Richard EM, Diez C, Alzaeem H, Denus M, Cubedo N, Delaunay T, Glendenning E, Baxendale S, Liévens J-C , Whitfield TT et al (2022) . Human Molecular Genetics, 31(16), 2711-2727.
  • Mendonca T, Jones AA, Pozo JM, Baxendale S, Whitfield TT & Frangi AF (2021) . PLOS Computational Biology, 17(11).
  • Kenyon EJ, Kirkwood NK, Kitcher SR, Goodyear RJ, Derudas M, Cantillon DM, Baxendale S, de la Vega de León A, Mahieu VN, Osgood RT , Donald Wilson C et al (2021) . JCI Insight, 6(7).
  • Baxendale S, Asad A, Shahidan NO, Wiggin GR & Whitfield TT (2021) . genesis, 59(4).
  • Cheung KY, Jesuthasan SJ, Baxendale S, van Hateren NJ, Marzo M, Hill CJ & Whitfield TT (2021) . Frontiers in Physiology, 12(1).
  • Whitfield T (2020) . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 375(1792).
  • Diamantopoulou E, Baxendale S, de la Vega de León A, Asad A, Holdsworth CJ, Abbas L, Gillet VJ, Wiggin GR & Whitfield TT (2019) . Elife, 8.
  • Hartwell RD, England SJ, Monk NAM, van Hateren NJ, Baxendale S, Marzo M, Lewis KE & Whitfield TT (2019) . PLOS Genetics, 15(4).
  • Kenyon EJ, Kirkwood NK, Kitcher SR, O'Reilly M, Derudas M, Cantillon DM, Goodyear RJ, Secker A, Baxendale S, Bull JC , Waddell SJ et al (2017) . JCI Insight, 2(24).
  • Alsina B & Whitfield TT (2016) . Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology .
  • Whitfield TT & Baxendale S (2016) . Methods in Cell Biology, 134, 165-209.
  • Whitfield TT (2015) . Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, 32, 112-118.
  • Stooke-Vaughan GA, Obholzer ND, Baxendale S, Megason SG & Whitfield TT (2015) . Development, 142(6), 1137-1145.
  • Maier EC & Whitfield TT (2014) . PLoS Genetics, 10(12), ---.
  • Maier EC, Saxena A, Alsina B, Bronner ME & Whitfield TT (2014) . Dev Biol, 389(1), 50-67.
  • Whitfield TT & Monk N (2014) . DEVELOPMENTAL CELL, 29(5), 507-509.
  • Geng F-S, Abbas L, Baxendale S, Holdsworth CJ, Swanson AG, Slanchev K, Hammerschmidt M, Topczewski J & Whitfield TT (2013) . Development, 140(21), 4362-4374.
  • Whitfield TT (2013) . Elife, 2, e00648.
  • Stooke-Vaughan G, Huang P, Hammond KL, Schier AF & Whitfield TT (2012) . Cilia, 1(S1).
  • Buck L, Winter M, Redfern W & Whitfield T (2012) . Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, 66(2), 163-163.
  • Stooke-Vaughan GA, Huang P, Hammond KL, Schier AF & Whitfield TT (2012) . Development, 139(10), 1777-1787.
  • Buck LMJ, Winter MJ, Redfern WS & Whitfield TT (2012) . Hearing Research, 284(1-2), 67-81.
  • Hammond KL & Whitfield TT (2011) . Development, 138(18), 3977-3987.
  • Abbas L, Hajihashemi S, Stead LF, Cooper GJ, Ware TL, Munsey TS, Whitfield TT & White SJ (2011) . J Physiol, 589(Pt 6), 1489-1503.
  • Hammond KL, van Eeden FJM & Whitfield TT (2010) . Development, 137(8), 1361-1371.
  • Abbas L & Whitfield TT (2009) . Development, 136(16), 2837-2848.
  • Hammond KL & Whitfield TT (2009) . Gene Expr Patterns, 9(6), 391-396.
  • Hammond KL, Loynes HE, Mowbray C, Runke G, Hammerschmidt M, Mullins MC, Hildreth V, Chaudhry B & Whitfield TT (2009) . PLoS One, 4(2), e4368.
  • Hammond KL, Baxendale S, McCauley DW, Ingham PW & Whitfield TT (2009) . Evol Dev, 11(1), 27-40.
  • Dutton K, Abbas L, Spencer J, Brannon C, Mowbray C, Nikaido M, Kelsh RN & Whitfield TT (2009) . DIS MODEL MECH, 2(1-2), 68-83.
  • Whitfield TT & Hammond KL (2007) . Int J Dev Biol, 51(6-7), 507-520.
  • Hammond KL & Whitfield TT (2006) . Heredity, 96(4), 335-335.
  • Hammond KL & Whitfield TT (2006) . Development, 133(7), 1347-1357.
  • Whitfield TT, Mburu P, Hardisty-Hughes RE & Brown SDM (2005) . Drug Discovery Today Disease Models, 2(2), 85-92.
  • Whitfield TT (2005) . Curr Biol, 15(2), R67-R70.
  • Kozlowski DJ, Whitfield TT, Hukriede NA, Lam WK & Weinberg ES (2005) . DEV BIOL, 277(1), 27-41.
  • Hammond KL, Loynes HE, Folarin AA, Smith J & Whitfield TT (2003) . Development, 130(7), 1403-1417.
  • Whitfield TT (2002) . J Neurobiol, 53(2), 157-171.
  • Whitfield TT, Riley BB, Chiang M-Y & Phillips B (2002) . Dev Dyn, 223(4), 427-458.
  • Hammond KL, Hill RE, Whitfield TT & Currie PD (2002) . Mech Dev, 112(1-2), 183-189.
  • Mowbray C, Hammerschmidt M & Whitfield TT (2001) . Mech Dev, 108(1-2), 179-184.
  • Parichy DM, Rawls JF, Pratt SJ, Whitfield TT & Johnson SL (1999) . Development, 126(15), 3425-3436.
  • Haddon C, Mowbray C, Whitfield T, Gschmeissner S, Jones D & Lewis J (1999) . Journal of Neurocytology, 28, 837-850.
  • Haddon C, Mowbray C, Whitfield T, Jones D, Gschmeissner S & Lewis J (1999) . Journal of Neurocytology, 28(10-11), 837-850.
  • Whitfield T, Haddon C & Lewis J (1997) . Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 8(3), 239-247.
  • Whitfield TT, Granato M, Eeden FJMV, Schach U, Brand M, Furutani-Seiki M, Haffter P, Hammerschmidt M, Heisenberg C-P, Jiang Y-J , Kane DA et al (1996) . Development, 123(1), 241-254.
  • Whitfield TT, Heasman J & Wylie CC (1995) . Developmental Biology, 169(2), 759-769.
  • Whitfield TT, Sharpe CR & Wylie CC (1994) . Developmental Biology, 165(2), 731-734.
  • Whitfield T, Heasman J & Wylie C (1993) . Developmental Biology, 155(2), 361-370.

Book chapters

  • Whitfield TT (2025) In Richardson GP & Wu DK (Ed.), Development of Sensory Organs (pp. 125-184). Elsevier
  • Baxendale S & Whitfield TT (2014) In Romand R & Varela-Nieto I (Ed.), Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Academic Press (Elsevier)
  • Baxendale S & Whitfield TT (2014) , Development of Auditory and Vestibular Systems (pp. 63-105). Elsevier
  • Abbas L & Whitfield TT (2010) , Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Elsevier
  • Abbas L & Whitfield TT (2010) The Zebrafish Inner Ear In Perry SF, Ekker M, Farrell AP & Brauner CJ (Ed.), Zebrafish (pp. 123-171). Academic Press

Conference proceedings

  • Hartwell RD & Whitfield TT (2017) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 145 (pp S23-S23)
  • Hammond K, van Eeden F & Whitfield T (2009) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S155-S155)
  • Abbas L & Whitfield T (2009) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S156-S156)
  • Buck L, Winter MJ, Redfern WS & Whitfield TT (2009) . MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S330-S330)
  • Geng F, Abbas L & Whitfield T (2009) . Mechanisms of Development, Vol. 126 (pp S89-S89)
  • Abbas L, Murphy LR & Whitfield TT (2009) . MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S171-S172)

Posters

  • Jones A, Mendonca T, Whitfield T & Frangi A 'Exploring the curves of the zebrafish inner ear'.

Preprints

  • Peloggia J, Cheung KY, Petkova MD, Schalek R, Boulanger-Weill J, Wu Y, Wang S, van Hateren NJ, Januszewski M, Jain V , Lichtman JW et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Hartwell RD, England SJ, Monk NAM, van Hateren NJ, Baxendale S, Marzo M, Lewis KE & Whitfield TT (2018) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Research Group Members:

Lab alumni

  • Dr Anzar Asad
  • Dr Mar Marzo
  • Dr Davide Baldera
  • Dr Elvira Diamantopoulou
  • Dr Tania Mendonca
  • Dr Ryan Hartwell
  • Dr Sarah Burbridge
  • Dr Esther Maier
  • Dr Georgina Stooke-Vaughan
  • Dr Lauren Buck
  • Dr Fan-Suo Geng
  • Dr Bernardo Blanco-Sánchez
  • Dr Giuliano Giuliani
  • Dr Leila Abbas
  • Dr Kate Hammond
  • Mrs Joanne Spencer
  • Ms Helen Loynes
  • Ms Lucy Smith
  • Dr Catriona Mowbray
  • Ms C. J. Holdsworth
  • Dr King Yee Cheung
  • Dr Ana A. Jones

PhD, postdoc, fellowship and undergraduate summer project opportunities:

We welcome enquiries from anyone interested in joining the lab, including enquiries from self-funded students.

Please email Tanya Whitfield (t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk) for more information.

Specific PhD projects, postdoc, fellowship and other opportunities will be posted  in the PhD Project Directory when positions are available. You can limit your search by Supervisor.

Grants
  • The Wellcome Trust
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Teaching activities

Undergraduate:

  • BIS302 Level 3 Literature Review
  • BIS303 Level 3 'Patients as Educators' Research Project'
  • BIS4102 Level 4 Literature Review
  • BIS4103 Level 4 Laboratory Research Project
  • Academic Tutor to undergraduates at all Levels

MSc taught programmes:

  • BIS405 MSc Literature Review
  • BIS456 MSc Laboratory Research Project
  • BIS454 Practical Developmental Genetics (Module co-ordinator, with F. van Eeden)

Links