Richard R. Behringer, Ph.D.
Department of Genetics, Division of Discovery Science
About Dr. Richard R. Behringer
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Chair Ben F. Love for Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Faculty Member, Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Adjunct Professor, Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX
Research Interests
Research Interests
- Mammalian developmental genetics
- Reproductive biology
- Evolution and development
Our research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to the formation of a mammalian embryo, the genesis of tissues and organs during development, and the pathological consequences of developmental defects. In addition, we study the genetic mechanisms that result in organ morphology and physiology differences that have evolved between species. We utilize genetic, embryological and comparative approaches.The reproductive organs are essential for individuals to generate progeny and are a common source of disease. We are interested in defining the factors that cause the male and female phenotypes, including gonad and reproductive tract differentiation during embryogenesis and after birth. We are currently defining gene regulatory networks for reproductive organ development, using "-omics" profiling of developing reproductive organ tissues and generation of mutations in a variety of vertebrate species, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
We are also investigating developmental processes in diverse mammalian systems, including marsupials and chiropterans (bats). Mammalian embryogenesis and reproduction are very diverse between species, comparisons provide novel insights for reproduction, embryonic development and organogenesis. We collaborate with Marilyn Renfree (University of Melbourne) using the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) model to study sexual differentiation and limb development. Bats also offer a unique system to study the genetic mechanisms that diversify organogenesis. We have collaborated with John Rasweiler to establish the molecular embryology of the fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata. Our wallaby and bat studies are supported by field collections on Kangaroo Island, Australia and the island of Trinidad, respectively. In addition, we have a frozen archive of fibroblasts from >250 mammalian species previously collected by Drs. Tao-Chiuh (T.C.) Hsu and Sen Pathak. This "cryo zoo" serves as a rich source of genetic and cellular information.
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1986 | University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Biology, Ph.D |
| 1981 | California State University, Northridge, California, US, Biology, M.S |
| 1979 | California State University, Northridge, California, US, Biology, BA |
Postgraduate Training
| 1989-1990 | Associate, University of Washington, Seattle |
| 1986-1989 | Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Coordinator, Society of Development Biology Choose Development! Undergraduate Training Research Program, 2019 - Present
Member, Marine Biological Laboratory Advanced Courses Advisory Committee, Woods Hole, MA, 2018 - Present
Member, Admissions Committee, Embryology Course, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 2017 - Present
Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Baylor-Sanger-Harwell NIH Mouse Phenotyping Center, Bethesda, 2012 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, Hogg Lecture Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, CPRIT Summer Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Chair, HEIPSCRO Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2012 - Present
Advisory Committee Member, Genetically Engineered Mouse Facility, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2000 - Present
Editorial Activities
Associate Editor, International Journal of Developmental Biology, 2012 - Present
Editor/Service on Editorial Board(s), genesis, The Journal of Genetics of Development, 2010 - Present
Editor/Service on Editorial Board(s), Sexual Development, 2006 - Present
Editor/Service on Editorial Board(s), Development, Growth and Differentiation, 2000 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2019 | D. Dudley and Judy White Oldham Faculty Award, GSBS |
| 2013 | Paul E. Darlington Mentor Award |
| 2011 | Pioneer in Reproduction Research Leadership Award, Frontiers in Reproduction Program, Marine Biological Laboratory |
| 2006 - 2011 | Research Trust Fellow, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2003 | Faculty Achievement Award in Education, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2001 - 2003 | Honors Convocation Recipient, HSC |
| 2001 | Educator of the Month, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
| 1997 | Faculty Achievement Award in Basic Research, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2024. “Cell and developmental biology of sex differentiation in mammals”. Conference. 34th Annual Graduate Student Research Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. “Tissue remodeling during reproductive organ differentiation”. Invited. Storer Lectureship. Davis, US.
- 2025. Reproduction Series. Invited, US.
- 2025. “Reproductive organ development in vertebrates”. Invited. MC Chang Lecture, US.
- 2025. “Sex development in vertebrates”. Invited. Provo, US.
- 2024. “Role of Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Xenopus tropicalis”. Invited. XRET (Xenopus Resources and Emerging Technologies). Woodshole, MA, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. “Sex development in vertebrates”. Invited. National Institute of Genetics, JP.
- 2024. “Organ formation and tissue remodeling”. Invited. Neuroscience Academic Week. Queretaro, MX.
- 2024. “Müllerian duct biology in development and reproduction”. Invited. Annual Meeting, Society for the Study of Reproduction. Dublin, IE.
- 2024. Uterine Biology. Invited. SSR Annual Conference. Dublin, IE.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | In vivo imaging of mammalian fertilization |
| Funding Source: | NIH-Subcontract |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | R01 HD116768 |
| Date: | 2024 - 2029 |
| Title: | Reproductive tract organ development and differentiation |
| Funding Source: | NIH |
| Role: | PI |
| ID: | R01 HD113569 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2028 |
| Title: | In vivo investigation of cilia function in the Fallopian tube |
| Funding Source: | NIH-Subcontract w/ BCM |
| Role: | Co-I |
| ID: | R01 HD112102 |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Mattiske, D, Bernard, P, Gradie, PE, Behringer, RR, Overbeek, PA, J O’Neill, R, Phillips, T, Stewart, M, Youngson, N, Tarulli, G, Pask, AJ. A long non-coding RNA Leat1 mediates the hormone responsiveness of EfnB2 during male urogenital development. Communications Biology 9(1), 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41398470.
- Griffin, ZB, Kircher, BK, Behringer, RR. Poly(A) probe HCR RNA-FISH specifically marks pyriform nurse cells in the brown anole lizard ovary. Developmental Biology 529:219-226, 2026. e-Pub 2026. PMID: 41130332.
- Lee, S, Jung, SY, Kuś, P, Bondaruk, J, Lee, JG, Jaksik, R, Putluri, N, Dinh, KN, Cogdell, D, Chen, H, Wang, Y, Chen, J, Navai, N, Dinney, CP, Mendelsohn, C, McConkey, DJ, Behringer, RR, Guo, CC, Wei, P, Kimmel, M, Czerniak, BA. Dysregulated mitochondrial energy metabolism drives the progression of mucosal field effects to invasive bladder cancer. Journal of Pathology 267(3):329-346, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40996337.
- Calhoun, NM, Behringer, RR. WNT7A. Differentiation 145, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40815867.
- Ramos R, Pham KT, Prince RC, Leiser-Miller LB, Prasad MS, Wang X, Nordberg RC, Bielajew BJ, Hu JC, Yamaga K, Oh JW, Peng T, Datta R, Astrowskaja A, Almet AA, Burns JT, Liu Y, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Tran BQ, Chu YL, Nguyen AM, Hsi TC, Lim NT, Schoeniger S, Liu R, Pai YL, Vadivel CK, Ingleby S, McKechnie AE, van Breukelen F, Hoehn KL, Rasweiler JJ 4th, Kohara M, Loughry WJ, Weldy SH, Cosper R, Yang CC, Lin SJ, Cooper KL, Santana SE, Bradley JE, Kiebish MA, Digman M, James DE, Merrill AE, Nie Q, Schilling TF, Astrowski AA, Potma EO, Garcia-Castro MI, Athanasiou KA, Behringer RR, Plikus MV. Superstable lipid vacuoles endow cartilage with its shape and biomechanics. Science 387(6730):eads9960, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39787221.
- Scully DM, Xia T, Musina GR, McCown MA, Umezu K, Kircher BK, Behringer RR, Larina IV. Region-specific roles of oviductal motile cilia in oocyte/embryo transport and fertility. Biol Reprod 112(4):651-662, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 39761349.
- Kircher BK, Liu B, Bramble MD, Moses MM, Behringer RR. Gene expression profile analysis of subregions of the adult female reproductive tract in the brown anole, Anolis sagrei. Reproduction 169(2), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39561037.
- Carrion EA, Moses MM, Behringer RR. FGF5. Differentiation 139, 2024. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37957094.
- Aloway JA, Ruteshouser EC, Huff V, Behringer RR. Generation of a Wt1 conditional deletion, nuclear red fluorescent protein reporter allele in the mouse. Differentiation 138:100791, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38941819.
- Kircher BK, McCown MA, Scully DM, Behringer RR, Larina IV. Structural analysis of the female reptile reproductive system by micro-computed tomography and optical coherence tomography†. Biol Reprod 110(6):1077-1085, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38641547.
- Lee S, Bondaruk J, Wang Y, Chen H, Lee JG, Majewski T, Mullen RD, Cogdell D, Chen J, Wang Z, Yao H, Kus P, Jeong J, Lee I, Choi W, Navai N, Guo C, Dinney C, Baggerly K, Mendelsohn C, McConkey D, Behringer RR, Kimmel M, Wei P, Czerniak B. Loss of LPAR6 and CAB39L dysregulates the basal-to-luminal urothelial differentiation program, contributing to bladder carcinogenesis. Cell Rep 43(5):114146, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38676926.
- Kircher BK, Stanley EL, Behringer RR. Anatomy of the female reproductive tract organs of the brown anole (Anolis sagrei). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 307(2):395-413, 2024. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37506227.
- Papaioannou VE, Behringer RR. Special Breeding Techniques for Use in Mouse Mutation Analysis. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024(1):107961, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37932080.
- Papaioannou VE, Behringer RR. Isolation of XO Subclones from XY Murine Embryonic Stem Cells. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024(1):108038, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 37932090.
- Papaioannou VE, Behringer RR. Mouse Gene-Targeting Strategies for Maximum Ease and Versatility. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024(1), 2024. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37932102.
- Papaioannou VE, Behringer RR. Backcrossing to Generate a Congenic Mouse Strain. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024(1), 2024. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37932101.
- Rogers, CD, Amemiya, C, Arur, S, Babonis, L, Barresi, M, Bartlett, M, Behringer, RR, Benham-Pyle, B, Bergmann, D, Blackman, B, Brown, CT, Browne, B, Camacho, J, Chabu, CY, Chow, I, Cleaver, O, Cool, J, Dennis, MY, Dickinson, AJ, Di Talia, S, Frank, M, Gillmor, S, Haag, ES, Hariharan, I, Harland, R, Husbands, A, Jerome-Majewska, LA, Koenig, K, Labonne, C, Layden, M, Lowe, C, Mani, M, Martik, M, McKown, K, Moens, C, Mosimann, C, Onyenedum, J, Reed, R, Rivera, A, Rokhsar, DS, Royer, L, Rutaganira, F, Shahan, R, Sinha, N, Swalla, B, Van Norman, JM, Wagner, DE, Wikramanayake, A, Zebell, S, Brady, SM. Pluripotency of a founding field. Development (Cambridge) 151(3):1-8, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38345109.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified September 10, 2026