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Forging new tools to understand  neurological disease

Image by Dr. S, Eacker

Philosophy

To find new treatments for neurological disease requires new tools and approaches to answer fundamental questions about the nature of the disease.  In the Xu lab, we strive to build new isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)-derived neural cells, preclinical mouse models and state-of-the-art techniques to understand the underlying mechanisms with the goal of developing new medical interventions.

The stem cell-derived human cell as a platform to study science of neural diseases

The human brain is a truly remarkable organ, which is responsible for our intelligence, information processing and controlling our behavior that define who we are.  Dysregulation of the brain function leads to neurological disorders ranging from Alzheimer's disease to autism and intellectual disability.

Using human iPS derived cells allows us to genetically define brain cells that participate in neural circuits affected by disease or understand how mutations affect translation in defined cell types with nucleotide resolution. 

Stay thoughtful, stay curious.

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Projects

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Brain resilience & Epigenetic control 

 

Following the initiation of pro-resilience activity in human iPSC derived brain cells, PRDM gene family members, play crucial roles in the transitions of cellular states between brain cell resilience and demise.

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Interface of Blood-Brain-Barrier

 

Dynamic and complex interactions between the endothelial cells, neurons, glial cells, and other components are crucial for maintaining the homeostasis of the brain's microenvironment, and its dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of AD.

J.C. Xu

Translation control and neural fate

 

Dysregulation of mTOR signaling underlies numerous neurological disorders including Alzheimer, autism etc.  Our results so far point to an important role for mTOR-mediated translation control in the specification a particular subtype of hNPCs and Alzheimer related genes by targeting unconventional genes with either TOP-like sequences or no discernible TOP sequence.

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Home and Funding

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Job Opportunity

Available Positions:

– postdoctoral fellow
– visiting scholar
– research technician
– graduate student

We support and welcome individuals of all backgrounds. Those applicants with a track record of excellence in research and scholarship can apply. Expertise is sought in any of the following areas: neuroscience, gene editing, bioengineering, human iPSC and ES cell culture, transgenic animal models, confocal microscopy, fluorescence activated cell sorting, and small animal surgical models. Our lab will serve as a good platform for you to explore research projects of your own design. Please send your CV to jxu31@jhmi.edu.

Contact

Department of Neurology
Institute for Cell Engineering

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
733 North Broadway Suite 769
Baltimore, MD 21205
jxu31 at jhmi dot edu

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© 2020 proudly created and kindly shared by Dr. Stephen Eacker. 

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