Marc Ekker
Professor
Biology
University of Ottawa
Canada
Biography
Dr. Ekker's main research interests lie in the genetic mechanisms that control development, with a special emphasis on the development of dopaminergic and GABAergic populations of neurons in the forebrain. The Ekker laboratory use zebrafish and mice as experimental systems. Studies in zebrafish now focus on neurogenesis in the normal adult brain but also following neuronal death as a model for Parkinson’s disease. Targeted mutations in zebrafish are also used to understand rare genetic diseases that affect humans. Finally, the Ekker laboratory is carrying out proof of concepts studies in zebrafish to develop novel transgenic methods for the biological confinement of farmed fish. He is the author of many articles published in several reputed journals.
Research Interest
Cellular and Molecular Biology, Homeobox, Development, Evolution, Mouse, Zebrafish, Transgenic animals, Developmental neurobiology, Genome evolution, Parkinson’s disease, Autism.
