This process depends on many signals being sent both nearby and over longer distances between cells, guiding them to grow, divide, take on specific roles, move to the right places, and form the correct connections. To make this happen, genes must be turned on and off at exactly the right time and in the right locations. We use cutting edge techniques to study the processes of cell-type specification and differentiation at the molecular level with particular focus on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation as well as cell to cell signaling during development. We build mini tissues, so called organoids, from stem cells and use these to study normal human development and to model diseases that affect the nervous system and connected tissues such as ALS, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder or brain cancer.
Research subject Neurodevelopment
Development of the nervous system is a highly regulated process where billions of neurons are generated and integrated into functional circuits.