Our long term objective is to apply stem cell technology to expand integrative sciences in both basic and translational research.  The current research focuses on elucidating mechanisms of brain development in mammals using stem cells and finding possible applications of these cells for neurodegenerative diseases. 

On the basic science front, we have expanded our studies using human neural progenitor/stem cells to elucidate novel effects and their underlying mechanisms of steroids and excitatory amino acids. We demonstrated that a neurosteroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has powerful effects on the cell proliferation of human neural stem cells. DHEA is among the most abundant naturally occurring steroids in the blood of young humans, but levels decline with age and its physiological effects are poorly understood. Furthermore, we have continued to extend his own studies to move from DHEA to other factors such as glutamate and epidermal growth factor (EGF) involved with human neural stem cell growth and differentiation. 

On the translational front, we are using human neural progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells as therapeutic applications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The overall aim of our current idea is to provide growth factor delivery using stem cells to spinal cord (i.e. cell body) and and/or the skeletal muscle (i.e. nerve terminals of motor neurons) to establish whether this can protect motor neurons from degeneration in a rat model of ALS.  We are also interested in the underlying mechanisms of sexual dimorphism in ALS and possible therapeutic applications of sex steroids on ALS disease progression.  We believe knowledge obtained from these projects will provide us important information for further integrative and powerful approaches with stem cell transplantation and steroid replacement therapy.