# First person – Paul Iyyanar and Nirpesh Adhikari

## TL;DR

This paper explores how the ALX1 transcription factor contributes to the development of extraocular muscles in the early cranial mesoderm.

## Contribution

The study identifies the role of ALX1 in specifying extraocular muscle formation during early cranial mesoderm development.

## Key findings

- ALX1 is essential for the formation of extraocular muscles in the cranial mesoderm.
- The research provides insights into craniofacial genetics and developmental biology.

## Abstract

First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Nirpesh Adhikari and Paul Iyyanar are co-first authors on ‘
The ALX1 transcription factor acts in the early cranial mesoderm to specify extraocular muscle formation’, published in DMM. Paul conducted the research described in this article while a postdoc in Rulang Jiang's lab at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA. He is now a Research Scientist in the lab of Rolf Stottmann at Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, USA, investigating craniofacial genetics and developmental biology. Nirpesh is an Associate Staff Scientist in the lab of Rulang Jiang at Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA, investigating craniofacial genetics and developmental biology.