Neurobiology — Development and Regeneration
Our group engages in advanced research in regenerative neuroscience from the molecular to cell biological and integrative levels. One of our major research goals is to understand the mechanisms underlying the control and guidance of nerve growth in the developing and regenerating central nervous system. Within this theme, specific topics under investigation include:

1. molecular analysis of guidance receptors and signal transduction mechanisms,
2. gradient sensing and axon guidance,
3. directed endocytosis and exocytosis, and
4. functional regulation of cell adhesion molecules.

A related topic under investigation is the molecular mechanisms regulating the invasiveness of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is the most common and aggressive astrocytic neoplasm, accounting for more than fifty percent of all primary brain tumor cases. These highly invasive astrocytomas can rapidly infiltrate the brain, and it is this ability of malignant astrocytes to invade and distantly migrate that renders GBM incurable by surgical resection. Importantly, the invasive malignant astrocytes tend to migrate along large myelinated tracts such as the corpus callosum, and most recurrent GBMs arise either locally or within regions that are connected to the primary site by large myelinated tracts. These key findings suggest that chemotropic guidance cues may regulate the migration of malignant astrocytes. Our goal is to develop experimental and potentially therapeutic strategies by focusing on the specific biological cues that control the invasiveness of these tumors.