Driven by a passion for science, they reached out to Dr. Jessica Whited Ph.D. an Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University and organised a full one hour video interview. Professor Whited shared fascinating insights into how axolotls can regrow entire limbs—including bones, muscles, skin, and nerves—thanks to a unique process where adrenaline activates stem cells across their bodies.

From Professor Whited’s talk, they learned that the Whited lab develops tools to manipulate gene expression during limb regeneration in axolotls, and explore signaling events following wound healing that initiate the regenerative process. Humans and other mammals have extremely limited regenerative capabilities in key parts such as limbs.

Nearly two million Americans are currently living with the consequences of having undergone limb amputation due to injury or disease, and this number is expected to rise.  No biological therapeutic has been devised to address this problem.

In contrast, axolotl salamanders can replace entire lost limbs throughout life, and these limbs are anatomically similar to human limbs. This amazing feat presents an opportunity to learn about natural cellular reprogramming in animals. While axolotl limb regeneration has been known for centuries, much of the crucial mechanistic detail at the molecular level has remained elusive.

The students’ deep engagement and confidence in connecting with a global expert brought their project to life, and perhaps a vision for the future where we can entice human cells to also respond and build new limbs.  This investigation is a great example of how our students seek out meaningful challenges and are passionate learners.

Here is a summary from Danielle Heads (Year 7):

For our science fair project, we focused on limb regeneration in axolotls, a species of amphibian known for their ability to regrow complex body parts, including entire limbs. Our goal was to understand how axolotls perform this process and whether there are any potential applications for human medicine in the future.

To gain deeper insights, we interviewed Dr. Jessica Whited, a researcher at Harvard University who specializes in axolotl limb regeneration. Her lab investigates how axolotls regenerate lost structures, including bones, muscles, skin, and nerves, and we reached out to her because her research directly aligned with our topic.

 Dr. Whited shared that one of her most exciting discoveries was about the role of adrenaline in the regeneration process. She explained that when an axolotl loses a limb, its body uses adrenaline to activate stem cells, but not just at the injury site. Adrenaline “wakes up” stem cells all over the axolotl’s body, which prepares it for regeneration. Only once this system-wide activation occurs do the cells at the injury site begin to regenerate the missing limb. Dr. Whited also pointed out that if adrenaline signalling is blocked, the axolotl cannot regenerate its limb or activate the stem cells needed for the process. This mechanism ties into the axolotl’s survival instincts in the wild – adrenaline helps the animal react quickly to threats from predators, including other axolotls. In this way, the same system that helps the axolotl escape danger also plays a crucial role in its ability to regenerate lost limbs.

When we asked Dr. Whited what advice she would give to students interested in science, she said, “Science is a long-term enterprise, so the key thing to succeed is to work hard, and always stay excited and motivated about what you’re doing.” This reminder about the importance of persistence and passion in scientific research resonated with us and reinforced the dedication required to make progress in the field.

The interview provided us with a deeper understanding of the regenerative process and gave us a clearer picture of how scientists like Dr. Whited are studying the mechanisms behind it. It was a valuable experience that added credibility and depth to our project, helping us present a more detailed and informed exploration of axolotl limb regeneration.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Whited for taking the time to share her expertise with us. Her insights were invaluable to our project and truly enhanced our understanding of the topic.