ISTM

Dr Gates is exploring the factors which are likely  to contribute to successful neural grafts and stem cell utilisation in circuits in the brain .

I have a long standing interest in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate the development of circuits in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), particularly those circuits which (in the adult) can undergo neurodegenerative episodes (e.g., Parkinson's disease) or are disrupted/destroyed by common traumatic injuries (e.g., spinal cord injury).  If we can identify cells, genes or gene products that facilitate and guide the growth of specific neural circuits during development we might be able to exploit these factors to improve the integration, connectivity and functioning of stem/primary/neural stem cell transplants to the adult CNS, or facilitate the regenerative capacity of neurons remaining in the afflicted system.

Recently, I have begun highlighting tissues/cells in the developing CNS which attract (or repel) nigro-striatal axonal growth via a novel culture explant system which allows me establish a segement of the dopaminergic circuit in vitro.  The advantage of this system is that I am able to manipulate axonal growth in vitro and determine the spatial and temporal localization of chemoattractive and chemorepulsive cues that guide nigro-striatal axons during circuitry formation.  Currently I am using gene arrays to discern the particular genes involved in these effects and hope to identify constituents which may be exploited to manipulate circuitry formation in vivo, or increase connectivity of cell transplants to the adult brain.