How are the right types of cells produced in the right place, at the right time, in the right amounts in a developing tissue?
Our lab is trying to answer these questions by studying the spinal cord.
Why the spinal cord? The spinal cord is a crucial part of the central nervous system, housing the nerves that enable us to perceive our environment and control our muscles. By studying its development, we gain insights into the broader processes of neural tissue formation and organisation.
We identify the genes involved in spinal cord development and determine how these work together to organise the different types of nerve cells that build it.
To do this we use embryos and stem cells and we develop new computational tools and models. This allows us to analyse the relationships between the genes, cells and tissues involved in spinal cord formation.
Our research not only advances an understanding of embryonic development but also has broader implications. The more we know about how the spinal cord develops, the more we can understand nervous system diseases and injuries. This knowledge is crucial for developing future therapies and treatments. Discovering the secrets of embryonic development paves the way for advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and the development of therapeutic approaches to treat disease.
Briscoe Lab 