My laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of axon growth and guidance using mouse genetic models. Currently, we are investigating signal transduction pathways induced by the neural cell adhesion molecules L1 and NCAM.

The molecular mechanism by which growth cones navigate and reach their synaptic targets is fundamental to the development of the nervous system. Axonal growth, path finding, and synaptic target recognition are complex events mediated by neural cell adhesion molecules and neurotrophic factors by activating signal transduction cascades in nerve growth cones.

Centers and Collaborative Investigators in our Research Program

We are fortunate to be a part of the UNC Neuroscience Center and Neurobiology Curriculum for Graduate Research. Association with the Neuroscience Center enables us to participate in the Developmental Neuroscience Mini-Series (a bi-weekly presentation forum), a weekly neuroscience seminar series, and the annual symposium. Students from the Neurobiology Curriculum are welcome to rotate in the lab.

As a Principal Investigator of the NIMH-funded UNC Silvio Conte Center for Schizophrenia Research, I participate in weekly journal clubs and laboratory research discussions on joint projects in clinical and basic neuroscience aspects of schizophrenia.

Our lab is also affiliated with the UNC Neurological Disease Research Center (NDRC) which offers symposia, graduate training, and opportunities for collaboration in such areas as autism, fragile X syndrome, and cognition.

We are fortunate to have many outstanding investigators both here at UNC and elsewhere in the neuroscience community with whom we collaborate including Drs. Eva Anton (cortical neuron migration), Anthony LaMantia (22q11 genes, neuronal patterning), Franck Polleux (thalamocortical axon guidance), Patrick Sullivan (neurogenetics), William Snider (neurotrophins, axon guidance), and Dr. Melitta Schachner (University of Hamburg, and Keck Center, NJ).