Contact information
Tel.: 514-934-1934 ext. 42995
don [dot] vanmeyel [at] mcgill [dot] ca
Academic affiliations
Neurology and Neurosurgery
Biology
We encourage applications from motivated post-docs and students who are interested in our research.
Research:
Genetic Analysis of Nervous System Development
The overall objective of research in our laboratory is to understand molecular and organizational principles that underlie the assembly of functional neural circuits during development. The human central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of cells of two major classes, neurons and glial cells, and interactions between them are vital for the CNS to develop and function properly. In addition, signaling between neurons requires the establishment of precise and complex intercellular connections through the patterned development of axons and dendrites. Our research program is divided into two primary themes that focus on 1) the importance of neuron-glial interactions during development, and 2) the patterned growth and guidance of axons and dendrites. We are also interested in how perturbations of these processes contribute to neurological diseases, and how improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms can be used to promote repair in the injured or diseased CNS.
To explore these two themes, we use the advanced genetics and molecular tools available for the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila has been well-studied and many functional, morphological and molecular features of neurons and glia are well conserved between mammals and insects. Indeed, many important axon guidance molecules in mice and humans were first identified in fruit flies. Studies in Drosophila can also enhance our understanding of neuron-glial interactions and dendrite patterning. Using strategies that include genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and confocal imaging, we investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuron-glial interactions, axon guidance and dendrite patterning in relation to CNS development and function.
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