The Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules and Calcium Regulation for Human Neurogenesis in Health and Disease

This project built on my unique expertise in stem cell models of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and I propose a novel, integrative and efficient approach to use NDD patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC), CRIPSR/Cas9 genome editing and brain organoids to uncover disease mechanisms and potential therapy targets.

I and my team will use state-of-the art techniques of single cell transcriptomics, spatial RNAseq, epigenetics, advanced cellular models, latest genome editing, novel imaging techniques and lineage tracing with barcoding to approach questions about how the human brain develops and what mechanisms are de-regulated in NDDs.The overall goal of this project is to investigate early human brain development in particular how cell-adhesion play crucial roles and how Ca2+ activity modulates neurogenesis and how defects in these processes lead to NDD.

We hypothesise that precise regulation of neural stem cell function are important for correct brain development and when de-regulated cause NDD.

Expected outcomes is increased mechanistic knowledge of human neurogenesis in healthy individuals and NDD patients, revealed mechanisms to be investigated as therapy targets.

This project is in line with the long-term goal of my group to improve the daily life of people with NDD and their families.