Date:
January 26, 2007
Time: Noon to 1:00
Title: "Metabolomics Of Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Seeking Biochemical
Pathways Of Acquired Neurodevelopmental Disorders"
Speaker:
Gabriela Gebrin Cezar, DVM, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Where: Waisman
Conference Center
Room T216, Second Floor, North Tower
About the Talk:
There are few sentinel biomarkers for early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental
disorders. Our laboratory seeks to identify biochemical pathways and
translational biomarkers that are altered by known disruptors of human
development (valproate, alcohol), using metabolomics of hES cells and neural
precursors derived from hES cells. This approach offers a unique advantage over
other models since it employs cells derived directly from human embryos.
Moreover, in addition to elucidating mechanisms of anti-epileptic and alcohol
activity during early human development, the biomarkers discovered in hES cells
are applicable to preclinical safety evaluation of pharmaceutical compounds on
human development. Unfortunately, current animal models can only predict human
developmental toxicity with ~50% accuracy.
Another goal of our research is to examine the contribution of biochemical
pathways identified by metabolomics on human neurogenesis, with special emphasis
upon serotonergic (5HT, serotonin) neurons. Serotonergic development is
disrupted by prenatal exposure to exogenous agents, and is likely contributory
to the cognitive dysfunction that typify neurodevelopmental disorders. The
effects of biochemical pathways of valproate-injury on human neurogenesis are
determined by modulation of target pathways (detected by metabolomics) followed
by differentiation of hES cells into neural precursors and serotonergic neurons.
Our metabolomics approach is conducted in parallel to in silico analysis, in
order to reveal candidate biological networks for the onset of
neurodevelopmental disorders.
For Further Information: Contact Teresa Palumbo at 263-5837 or
palumbo@waisman.wisc.edu
The Waisman Center Seminar
Series is partially funded by the
Friends of the Waisman Center and NIH grant
P30 HD003352.
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