stem cell progenitor cell

My lab focuses on understanding the regulation of developmental signaling pathways in brain tumor formation and growth. Using neurosphere cultures of human brain tumor initiating cells and organotypic slice culture systems, we employ knock-down and overexpression techniques to identify genes that can regulate stem/progenitor cell proliferation. We are currently investigating potential modulators of Sonic Hedgehog signaling that may restrict SHH-induced precursor proliferation temporally and spatially to appropriate niches.   We are also interested in how microRNAs and other mediators of translational control may influence signaling through developmental signaling pathways such as SHH, Wnt, and Notch.