Sabrina C Desbordes
Neuroscience
Helmholtz Zentrum Munich
Greece
Biography
For many years, the extracellular matrix was thought to serve as an inert scaffold of tissues. It is now clear that it has an active and complex role in regulating cell behaviors such as differentiation, migration, shape, function, proliferation and survival. In the brain, the major components of the extracellular matrix are proteoglycans. Very little is known about their role during neuronal development, homeostasis and disease. We use molecular, genetic and imaging tools in neurons derived from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells as well as in vivo model systems to investigate the role of heparan sulphate proteoglycans during brain development and disease.
Research Interest
Stem Cells in Neural Development