Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Spinal Cord and Vertebral Column Development during Embryogenesis

Purpose of the proposed study is to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive and regulate formation of the spinal cord and vertebral column during embryogenesis using mouse and zebrafish models. The project has two specific aims, focusing on the cellular and molecular aspects, respectively.

Regarding the time plan, first year will be dedicated to animal strain generation and establishment of optimal experimental conditions. Second and third year will be focused on performing the proposed experiments and data collection. Fourth year will mainly involve data analysis and publication.

Scientific methods include but not limited to multi-colored clonal lineage tracing, in vitro and in vivo live imaging, single-cell RNA-sequencing and related analysis, CRISPR-mediated genome editing and micro-CT analysis etc.

Accomplishment of the studies will not only uncover the basic principles behind mesodermal and ectodermal tissue patterning and molecular clues for neural tube/neural crest, notochord and mesenchymal cell differentiation; but also improve our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying spinal cord and vertebral column formation.

Both achievements will innovate the current research frontier in the field of developmental biology and neuroscience.

Findings from the proposed research will establish a solid scientific basis for the development of novel therapeutic, surgical and regenerative approaches against all kinds of spine-related disorders.