Cell generation in the adult brain

The aim of the proposed projects is to answer key unresolved questions concerning cell generation in the adult brain, ranging from uncovering the cell types and molecular logic of neurogenesis in humans to assessing the extent of neurogenesis and its relation to genetics and pathology.

Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus ensures the continuous presence of new born neurons, which have specific electrophysiological properties for a limited time after their generation.

These new born neurons are important for aspects of memory formation and mood regulation and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis has been implicated in common pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

Most of our understanding of hippocampal neurogenesis comes from studies in rodents, as much of the methodology used in experimental animals is not readily applicable in humans.Projects:1.Development of novel methodology for studying cell generation in humans.2. Neurogenesis in the adult human brain – cell lineages, molecular regulation and alterations in human disease.3.

The role of clonal gene expression in cell selection in the brain.