Dr. DANIEL DEL TORO RUIZ
Research Group: Cortical Neurodevelopment
Research overview
The neocortex is the most evolved region of the brain and the source of high cognitive skills such as language. During development, two coordinated events shape its morphology, leading to the cortex columnar and layered structure: the proliferation of neuronal progenitors and cortical migration.
The focus of our laboratory is to understand how these two processes also contribute to the expansion and folding of this structure. We use expression profiling experiments, conditional mouse lines, functional in vitro and in vivo assays together with advanced imaging techniques to determine molecular mechanisms involved in folding of the cortex. We are currently interested in examining the role of synaptic proteins during cortical migration and the impact of cortex folding on animal behaviour and intelligence.
Strategic lines
- Molecular mechanisms involved in lateral dispersion of cortical neurons.
- In vivo reprogramming during cortex development.
- Induction of cortex folding in animals that normally have a smooth cortex, such as mice.