Our lab is interested in the most fundamental of questions regarding the behaviour and characterization of neural stem cells. We use a number of in vivo and in vitro techniques, cell transplantation, imaging, genetic manipulations and animal models to ask about the inherent plasticity of stem cells (are all stem cells created equal?), the factors that regulate fate decisions, proliferation kinetics and functional consequences of stem cell modification. Understanding the fundamental properties is a first step to utilizing these cells in regenerative medicine strategies and we are actively pursuing the role of stem cells in models of disease such as stroke and spinal cord injury.
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