Astrocytes are a specialized glial cell type that is integral to brain circuits and exert profound effects on human health, therefore astrocyte dysfunction has been implicated as a hallmark of many neurological disorders. The goal of our lab is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of how astrocytes contribute to nervous system formation and function. By harnessing a powerful combination of molecular-genetic approaches and live-imaging techniques in fruit flies and zebrafish model systems, we explore the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms governing the development and function of astrocytes, and how they modulate neural circuits.
Projects
- Molecular mechanisms of astrocyte morphogenesis.
- Astrocyte plasticity in development and aging.
- How do astrocytes modulate neural circuits?
Chen Lab at UNC-Chapel Hill 