Regulation of Neural Stem Cells (360G-Wellcome-203798_Z_16_A)

Of all the tissues and organs in the human body the nervous system is the most intricate and complex, consisting of more than 100 billion neurons. These neurons make precise connections with each other to form functional networks that can transmit information at amazing speed over considerable distances. Neurons are produced by neural stem cells, which renew themselves at each cell division while also giving rise to all of the diverse types of neurons in the brain. The Brand lab is interested in how the environment influences stem cell behaviour, in particular how nutrition regulates neural stem cell proliferation. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms that control whether a stem cell chooses to proliferate or remain dormant is crucial for understanding tissue regeneration under normal and pathological conditions and in response to ageing. It is critical to learn not only how stem cell proliferation is induced but also how stem cells can return to a dormant (‘quiescent’) state, as uncontrolled stem cell division can lead to cancer, including brain tumours like glioma. A thorough appreciation of the signals, both extrinsic and intrinsic, that control stem cell behaviour is necessary to understand how homeostasis is achieved and maintained in the brain.