The Translational Stem Cell Neurobiology Laboratory studies brain disorders in which inhibitory interneuron function is compromised, such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pains and autism spectrum disorders, with the aim of developing novel therapeutics for these debilitating disorders.
To find a better way to treat cortical interneuron-associated brain disorders, we make inhibitory interneurons from induced pluripotent stem cells and study these patient neurons to understand their abnormalities. This study could lead to novel and more effective therapies for various interneuron-associated brains disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.
In addition to studying disease mechanisms, we also develop interneuron cell therapy for various inhibitory interneuron-associated brain disorders. We have shown that transplantation of stem cell-derived human interneurons effectively reduce seizures and ameliorate cognitive deficits in animal models of epilepsy. We are further developing this novel therapeutics for the purpose of clinical translation.
