Sep 20 2024

BIOS Seminar: “Timing Mechanisms in Neurons: from Neuronal Connectivity and Regeneration to Neurodegeneration” by Chieh Chang

September 20, 2024

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location

SELE 4289

Please join us at 4pm on Friday, September 20th in SELE 4289 for a BIOS Seminar featuring "Timing Mechanisms in Neurons: from Neuronal Connectivity and Regeneration to Neurodegeneration" by Dr. Chieh Chang.

Abstract: The research in my laboratory tries to understand the rules that allow the nervous system to ‘wire itself’ in development, ‘rewire itself’ after injury in adults, and degenerate as animals age. We address specifically the following questions: How do neurons regulate the transition of sequential events in neuronal connectivity from nerve pathfinding to synapse formation? How do neurons regenerate and repair themselves after injury? How does age influence nerve regeneration and degeneration? What is the relationship between the timing of neuronal differentiation and the timing of neurodegeneration? We ask these questions mainly in the context of nematode C. elegans with an overarching goal of identifying novel common mechanisms underlying the development, regeneration, and degeneration of neural circuits that can be applicable to other model systems. In addition to identifying spatial regulatory pathways that control neuronal circuit assembly, repair, and degeneration, my lab focuses on understanding timing mechanisms in neurons, from neuronal connectivity and regeneration to neurodegeneration. In collaborating with researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, we combine mechanistic studies in C. elegans, which is among the most powerful model organisms, to address basic mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases with a groundbreaking investigation of our new findings in human patient iPSC-derived neuron models of neurodegenerative disease.

Chang Lab Website

Contact

Emily Beaufort

Date posted

Sep 3, 2024

Date updated

Sep 4, 2024