Investigating specification of neural progenitor fates

The ability of a single population of stem cells to engender distinct progeny in a spatially and temporally controlled manner is a powerful mechanism to generate cellular diversity. In the developing neocortex, spatial and temporal cues are necessary for the sequential production of distinct types of projection neurons. Our objective is to identify basic principles of specification that operate in neural stem cells in the neocortex. Specifically, we study the role of local cell-to-cell communication via Eph:ephrin signaling in providing external cues necessary to set the pace of neurogenesis in the neocortex.

Funding