Our research focuses on identifying new (molecular) targets not only for enhancing and navigating but also for correcting defective neurogenesis. The lab is integrating the strength of two complementary approaches to study the formation of human neurons, that is in forced and natural conditions. Through overexpression of neurogenic transcriptions factors neurogenesis is forced in non-neural brain-resident pericytes of the adult human cerebral cortex to obtain lineage conversion into induced neurons (iNs) (Karow et al., 2012, 2018). We are furthermore studying natural neurogenesis by using stem cell-derived brain organoids. There are several projects in the lab focusing on the role of mechanics in both, forced and natural neurogenesis, i.e. how changes in the physical environment are relayed and cause cellular alterations.

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