Our lab is dedicated to understanding how epigenetic regulation of the genome shapes the immense complexity of the mammalian brain. We focus our studies on the cerebral cortex, the mysterious “neuronal forest” (as described by Santiago Ramón y Cajal) responsible for higher cognition in humans. Our exploration begins inside the nucleus of neural stem cells—the pioneering cells responsible for building the brain during embryonic development. We aim to discover how genome-wide chromatin modifications in neural stem cells determine the exquisite architecture of the mature cerebral cortex. Additionally, we investigate the epigenome's role in preserving the identity and function of neural stem cells and cortical neurons throughout development and in the adult organism. Ultimately, our goal is to generate fundamental insights that could inspire new therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
