Neural Regeneration
Research > Neural Regeneration
Neural stem cells arise from the neuroepithelium during development and then persist within certain areas of the adult brain. They can be isolated from embryonic stem cells, developing brain tissue and specific regions of the adult brain.
Although there is some evidence of other stem cells from the blood and other non-neural tissues of the body "trans-differentiating" into bona fide neural stem cells, this is a very controversial area of research at present.
Neural stem cells can give rise to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and hold great potential for brain repair, regeneration and drug screening. Researchers are also aiming to regenerate adult differentiated glia and neurons.
Both embryonic and adult stem cells appear to release a cocktail of growth factors that can encourage regeneration of the damaged nervous system, or simply provide an appropriate "niche" for these types of events to occur. This could involve circuit reconstruction or replacement of missing cell types, such as replacing oligodendrocytes in patients with MS.
Understanding how this all works, and trying to manipulate stem cells to treat neurodegenerative diseases is a focus of many SCRMC investigators.
Faculty: Anita Bhattacharyya, Ian Duncan, Marina Emborg, David Gamm, Ron Kalil, John Kuo, Clive Svendsen, Su-Chun Zhang