Research summary
How does a healthy brain work-and what happens when a brain is diseased? Dr. Arezu Jahani-Asl, Canada Research Chair in Neurobiology of Disease, is trying to answer these questions by studying neural stem cells, a population of cells that give rise to diverse cell types in the brain and contribute to regeneration and plasticity (the brain’s ability to change and adapt).
Genetic modifications that alter the fate of neural stem cells can lead to devastating brain diseases, including aggressive brain cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders. Jahani-Asl and her research team aim to identify and target the key molecular events and signalling pathways that lead to the misregulation of neural stem cells. Ultimately, they hope to lay the foundation for better management and treatment of brain diseases.