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Research Focus

Keywords

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Human Organoids
  • Microtubule
  • Epilepsy
  • Sensory Systems
  • Clinical Conditions

  • Epilepsy
  • Autism
  • Equipment & Techniques

  • Calcium imaging
  • Cell culture
  • Confocal microscopy
  • Immunohistochemistry
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    Professor David Keays

    University Position
    Principal Research Associate
    Professor David Keays is pleased to consider applications from prospective PhD students.

    Interests

    The Keays lab exploits cerebral organoids, advanced light microscopy, single cell sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and in vivo genetic tools to investigate important questions in developmental and sensory neurobiology. We do this by relying on creative experimental design, that is complemented by a reductionist mindset that pays unrelenting attention to detail. We are interested in: (1) How mutations in microtubules and their associated proteins cause neurodevelopmental disease?; (2) Why do monotremes have different brains and senses? and (3) How do animals detect magnetic fields? We promote an egalitarian atmosphere in the lab; your ideas are more important that your title or position. We strongly believe that interacting with people from different backgrounds promotes innovation, excellence, creativity and makes life more interesting.

    Histological Section of a Cerebral Organoid

    Key Publications

    Mutations in MAST1 cause mega corpus callosum syndrome and cortical malformations.

    DOI:
    Journal: Neuron
    Year: 2018
    Authors: 5. Tripathy R, van Dijk T, van Bon B, Gstrein T, Bahi-Buisson N, Paciorkowski A, Pagnamenta A, Taylor J, Terrone G, Vitiello G, D’Amico A, Del Giudice E, Brunetti-Pierri N, Reymond A, Voisin N, Bernstein JA, Farrelly E, Pierson T, Kini U, Leonard T, Mirzaa G, Baas F, Chelly J, Keays DA

    Mutations in Vps15 perturb neuronal migration in mice and are associated with neurodevelopmental disease in humans

    DOI:
    Journal: Nature Neuroscience
    Year: 2018
    Authors: 4. Gstrein T, Edwards A, Přistoupilová A, Leca I, Breuss M, Pilat-Carotta S, Hansen AH, Tripathy R, Traunbauer AK, Hochstoeger T, Rosoklija G, Repic M, Landler L, Stránecký V, Dürnberger G, Keane TM, Zuber J, Adams DJ, Flint J, Honzik T, Gut M, Beltran S, Mechtler K, Sherr E, Kmoch S, Gut I, Keays DA.

    Mutations in alpha-tubulin cause defects in neuronal migration in mice and lissencephaly in humans.

    DOI:
    Journal: Cell
    Year: 2007
    Authors: 1. Keays DA, Tian G, Poirier K, Huang G, Siebold S, Cleak J, Oliver P, Washbourne R, Fray M, Harvey RJ, Molnar Z, Pinon M, Dear N, Brown SD, Rawlins JP, Davies KE, Cowan NJ, Patrick Nolan P, Chelly J, Flint J.

    Clusters of iron rich cells in the upper beak of pigeons are macrophages not magnetosensitive neurons.

    DOI:
    Journal: Nature
    Year: 2012
    Authors: 6. Treiber CD, Salzer CM, Riegler J, Edelman N, Sugar C, Breuss M, Pichler P, Cadiou H, Saunders M, Lythgoe M, Shaw J, Keays DA.

    Publications