CHS Junior Research Group Neuronal Signaling and Morphogenesis

Our ability to sense, understand, and respond to the surrounding world depends upon the complex, intricate set of neuronal connections that make up the human CNS. These connections are created, sculpted and refined during human brain development, a protracted process that arguably extends throughout the entire lifespan. Any developmental insults to these processes can result in the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders or the formation of brain neoplasms. Our laboratory focuses on understanding how intrinsic and extrinsic factors mediate the development and refinement of brain circuits. One important source of such signals is the choroid plexus, a unique interface between blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CFS). By employing a multitiered approach, ranging from molecular and cellular analysis to high-resolution microscopy and 2D and 3D in vitro modeling supported by transcriptomic analysis, we aim to unbiasedly dissect the role of choroid plexus-CSF axis during healthy and pathological brain development and aging.