Neuroplasticity/Neuroregeneration
High Content Analysis, deep sequencing & informatics, tissue clearing, fluorescent light sheet microscopy / ultramicroscopy
We use High Content Analysis to test thousands of genes and compounds on various primary neurons in culture to identify those that can promote or inhibit axon growth and regeneration. We use information theory and artificial intelligence approaches to identify targets.
We use RNASeq to uncover mRNAs and miRNAs relevant to axon regeneration. We are especially interested in transcription factors as tools to promote regeneration and use bioinformatic tools to uncover them.
To test hits from our in vitro screens we use models of spinal cord injury and optic nerve crush.
We work on ontology development and BD2K projects with Stephan Schürer, PhD in the Center for Computational Sciences and Ubbo Visser, PhD in Computer Sciences on the Bioassay Ontology project, the BD2K LIFE project, and the RegenBase project.
