Research

Our laboratory investigates the genetic factors that determine development and diversity of glial cells, applying these insights to understand and treat pediatric neurological diseases.

Glial Cell Research
Glial Development

Glial Cell Biology

Investigating genetic factors that determine development and diversity of glial cells, which comprise 90% of cells in the human brain.

Oligodendrocyte specification
Astrocyte diversity mechanisms
Neural stem cell regulation
Brain Cancer Research
Brain Cancer

Pediatric Gliomas

Studying Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and BRAF signaling in neural stem cells that can give rise to brain cancer, particularly medulloblastoma and glioma.

OLIG2 in diffuse gliomas
Pediatric medulloblastoma
Therapeutic target identification
Leukodystrophy Research
Leukodystrophy

White Matter Disorders

Leading clinical trials of neural stem cell transplantation for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease and investigating iron toxicity in oligodendrocyte death.

Neural stem cell trials
Iron toxicity mechanisms
Deferiprone treatment
Neonatal Research
Neonatal Injury

Brain Protection

Developing neuroprotective strategies for premature infants, including drug discovery for preventing cerebral palsy and cognitive deficits.

Neuroprotective drugs
Cerebral palsy prevention
Cognitive outcome improvement
Genomics Research
Genomics

Predictive Medicine

Leading the Predictome Project at Cedars-Sinai, using whole-genome sequencing to predict health risks and enable precision medicine approaches.

Whole-genome sequencing
Biomarker discovery
Gene therapy trials
MS Research
Multiple Sclerosis

Remyelination

Investigating oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and their role in promoting postnatal angiogenesis in white matter and potential MS therapies.

OPC-mediated angiogenesis
Wnt signaling pathways
Myelination timing

Current Projects

Active research initiatives pushing the boundaries of neuroscience and pediatric medicine.

Predictome Project

Progress 75%

Birth cohort study conducting whole-genome sequencing in newborns to predict health risks and enable precision medicine interventions.

Active Cedars-Sinai

Neural Stem Cell Trials

Progress 60%

First-in-human clinical trials of direct neural stem cell transplantation for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease, with promising early results.

Phase I Multi-site

Neuroprotective Drug Discovery

Progress 45%

Identifying and testing neuroprotective compounds to prevent brain injury in premature infants and reduce risk of cerebral palsy.

Preclinical Drug Discovery

MS Remyelination Therapy

Progress 30%

Developing oligodendrocyte progenitor cell-based therapies to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis patients.

Early Stage MS Research