About: CoHouart

Biography:

I developed my research niche during my postdoctoral training, in the late 90s, identifying the anterior neural plate border as a key organizer required for forebrain regionalization. I established my research team in 2001. Our team aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that generate forebrain regionalization and forebrain complexity. In the last years, our studies demonstrated that forebrain cell fate specification is initiated inside the neural plate, by a complex combination of responses to signals and formation of boundaries. We have developed a unique set of state-of-the-art in vivo single-cell manipulation and cell imaging techniques to follow cell fate decisions and morphogenesis inside the neural plate in live zebrafish embryos. Our recent findings demonstrate that the forebrain anlage is already finely regionalized inside the anterior plate in zebrafish. We are currently identifying the molecular players controlling this regionalization and comparing early forebrain fate specification in zebrafish and mouse. Our effort is also directed towards understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the formation of boundaries and spatial and temporal control of signaling centers. Concomitantly, we are exploring the molecular connections between cell fate specification and neurogenesis both inside the neural plate and in the developing telencephalon. Finally, my lab has made a recent contribution to the understanding of motor neurodegenerative diseases.

Website:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/biomedical/mrc/houart.php