Unraveling the Mechanisms of Neural Stem Cell Regulation in Aging and Injury

About the Kokovay Lab

The Kokovay lab studies the molecular and cellular regulation of adult neural stem cells. Adult neural stem cells give rise to newborn neurons and glia throughout life. These adult born neurons provide plasticity for specific types of learning and memory. Additionally, neural stem cells are thought to provide both new neurons and glia that participate in brain repair following stroke. We utilize multiple cellular and molecular tools to understand how intrinsic signals as well as extrinsic niche signals regulate neural stem cell quiescence, activation, migration and differentiation. We are particularly interested in neural stem cell regulation during aging and in the context of injury with the goal of identifying tools to increase brain repair following stroke and identify interventions to successfully counter neural stem cell aging and dysfunction.