#  Research 

 



Our laboratory is directed toward both 1) understanding molecular controls and mechanisms over neuron subtype development, diversity, axon guidance-circuit formation, and degeneration-disease in the cerebral cortex \[e.g. corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) in motor neuron disease (ALS, HSPs, PLS), and associative circuitry in autism (ASD) and intellectual disability\], and 2) applying developmental controls toward both brain and spinal cord regeneration \[e.g. CSMN circuitry that degenerates in ALS-MND, and whose injury is central to loss of motor function in spinal cord injury\] and directed differentiation for *in vitro* therapeutic and mechanistic screening.

The lab focuses on neocortical projection neuron development and subtype specification; new approaches to subtype-specific axonal growth cone biology; neural progenitor / “stem cell” biology; induction of adult neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons); and directed neuronal subtype differentiation via molecular manipulation of endogenous neural progenitors and pluripotent cells (ES/iPS). The same biology informs understanding of neuronal specificity of vulnerability in human neurodegenerative and developmental diseases. Relationships and application of cortical development to evolution, disease, and regeneration are frequent themes.



 

  [### Molecular controls over cortical projection neuron differentiation

 ](/cortical-output-neurons) 

   ![test](/sites/g/files/omnuum11626/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/macklis/files/icon-1_back.jpg?itok=hsjdUy3C) 

 

 

 

  [### Subcellular growth cone and synapse biology in development, disease, and regeneration

 ](/novel-growth-cone-biology-development-and-regeneration) 

   ![novel growth cone biology](/sites/g/files/omnuum11626/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/macklis/files/icon-2_back.jpg?itok=lc6s36iy) 

 

 

 

  [### Induced neurogenesis, recruitment of endogenous progenitors, directed differentiation

 ](/adult-neurogenesis-through-recruitment-endogenous-progenitors) 

   ![endogeneous neurogenesis](/sites/g/files/omnuum11626/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/macklis/files/icon-4b_back.jpg?itok=geyXUBIf) 

 

 

 

  [### Directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells and assemblies

 ](/directed-differentiation-human-pluripotent-stem-cells) 

   ![directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells](/sites/g/files/omnuum11626/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/macklis/files/icon-4a_back.jpg?itok=vu3klpWO) 

 

 

 

  [### New technologies to assess connectivity, diversity, and circuit formation

 ](/new-technologies-assess-connectivity-diversity-and-circuit-formation) 

   ![new technologies](/sites/g/files/omnuum11626/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/macklis/files/icon-5_back.jpg?itok=ENQCN9ys)