Neurodevelopment and multi-scale connectivity

The process of neurodevelopment, from the formation of the nervous system to configuration of the neural circuitry, is extremely complex. A multi-scale approach is utilized to understand cerebral plasticity, which is essential for adaptation to environmental demands. This approach includes techniques like multinomics, 3D imaging, and scientific computation to explore networks of neurons at different levels ranging from the cells to the tissue.

Conditions in patients are reproduced using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), creating 3D environments that mimic the characteristics of the donors, whether they are healthy or sick. This provides insights on neuronal differentiation, changes associated with disease, and potential therapeutic targets.

At LNBio, the focus is on integrated studies on neural connectivity. Stem cells are used to recreate the beginnings of human neural development in vitro to understand the functional network of neurons and its pathological alterations.