HUMAN TISSUE
We are interested in the function of one, largely understudied, specialized glia cell in the CNS: the ependymal cell, to explore its role in multiple sclerosis and neurodegeneration. Ependymal cells are multi-ciliated cells that form the brain’s ventricular epithelium.
Although dysfunction in these cells has been linked to several pathologies, including ventricular enlargement and periventricular demyelination, the exact role of these cells in most disease states is not known.
We assess material from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD).
ANIMAL MODELLING
We use transgenic animal models to assess the impact of glia cell manipulation on brain health. We specialize in the use of conditional and inducible systems where we can target specific cell types for manipulation, and control the timing and extent of manipulation.
SINGLE CELL TECHNOLOGIES
We specialize in the use of single cell technologies including the preparation of cells from mouse or human systems for RNA sequencing. We use high-throughput analysis approaches to dissect the intricate relationships between cells and cellular states to predict likely mechanisms of pathology or regeneration in disease or injury.
