Epigenomic Regulation of Neural Stem Cells (NSCs)

Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) exist in a limited population in the mammalian brain.  These multipotent progenitors can give rise to all cell types in the brain.  Neuronal Progenitor Cells (NPCs) are precursors to various neuronal cell types.  Both are progenitor/stem cells, but a clear difference exist in developmental competence.  We are using in vivo cells isolated from the developing mouse neural tube and differentiation of hESCs to investigate these cells using epigenomic tools.

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Current projects in the lab related to this topic include:

• Neural Development. Using FACS and GFP markers for specific populations of cells in the developing mouse nervous system, we are profiling NSCs, NPCs and early postmitotic neurons to understand lineage restriction and loss of multipotency.
• Neural Differentiation.  To complement our in vivo mouse studies, we are differentiating hESCs into various cells of nervous system, and using epigenomic tools to understand cell fate regulation and differentiation.