Uncovering the molecular mechanisms that control neural stem quiescence and reactivation is crucial for understanding tissue regeneration under normal and pathological conditions and in response to ageing. It is critical to learn not only how stem cell proliferation is induced but also how stem cells can return to a quiescent state, as uncontrolled stem cell division can lead to cancer. My lab combines cutting edge genetic and molecular approaches with advanced imaging to study the reactivation of neural stem cells in vivo. The questions we are addressing are: How do environmental signals influence neural stem cell behaviour? What are these signals and how are they received by the stem cell niche and transmitted to neural stem cells? What are the transcriptional and epigenetic changes in neural stem cells in the transition from quiescence to proliferation? How are neurons maintained in a differentiated state and what molecular changes lead to dedifferentiation and cancer?
