Events

You are here

Making and Breaking Spinal Motor Neurons

EVENT: 
Weekly Seminar | Not Open to the Public
Who Should Attend: 
Researchers

Speakers

Hynek Wichterle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology
Neuroscience, Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine
Columbia University
Co-Director
Motor Neuron Center
Columbia University

Research:

Dr. Wichterle developed groundbreaking methods for producing spinal cord neurons from pluripotent embryonic stem cells in a culture dish. The process faithfully recapitulates normal embryonic development, providing a unique opportunity to study and experimentally probe nerve cells in a controlled environment outside of the embryo. He is using the system to decode transcriptional programs that control expression of genes important for neuronal differentiation, maturation, and function. His lab also capitalizes on the unlimited source of spinal neurons to study motor neuron degenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), with the goal of discovering new drugs that promote motor neuron survival.

Hynek Wichterle, Ph.D. Figure

Publications

Thams S, Lowry ER, Larraufie MH, Spiller KJ, Li H, Williams DJ, Hoang P, Jiang E, Williams LA, Sandoe J, Eggan K, Lieberam I, Kanning KC, Stockwell BR, Henderson CE, Wichterle H.
A Stem Cell-Based Screening Platform Identifies Compounds that Desensitize Motor Neurons to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.
Mol Ther. 2019 Jan 2;27(1):87-101. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.10.010. Epub 2018 Oct 19.
Rhee HS, Closser M, Guo Y, Bashkirova EV, Tan GC, Gifford DK, Wichterle H.
Expression of Terminal Effector Genes in Mammalian Neurons Is Maintained by a Dynamic Relay of Transient Enhancers.
Neuron. 2016 Dec 21;92(6):1252-1265. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.037. Epub 2016 Dec 8.
Hoang PT, Chalif JI, Bikoff JB, Jessell TM, Mentis GZ, Wichterle H.
Subtype Diversification and Synaptic Specificity of Stem Cell-Derived Spinal Interneurons.
Neuron. 2018 Oct 10;100(1):135-149.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.09.016.

When

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 - 12:30pm

Where

785 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
United States
Conference Room: 
Billings Building – Rosedale

More Information

Conditions & Recovery

Spinal Cord Injury icon
Around the world, between 300,000 and 500,000 people are living with a SCI.
Motor Recovery Icon
Write and walk again.