Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions presents Prof. Georg Zoidl, Faculty of Health (Department of Psychology) and Faculty of Science (Department of Biology), York University

Talk Title: "Genome Engineering the Vertebrate Brain"

Abstract: Understanding how communication between nerve cells is built, maintained and protected over a lifetime is one of the most important questions in the Neurosciences. Communication appears usually effortless and flawless, but even small changes in signaling and information processing between nerve cells can become amplified over a lifetime and may cause a wide spectrum of neurological dysfunctions. My research program is focused on a communication pathway, which plays an important role in vision and is associated with higher brain functions, like learning and memory formation. To investigate the molecular and cellular basis of communication and information processing in this pathway under normal conditions and in diseases such as in epilepsy, ischemia and the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), we use zebrafish, which utilize the same communication principles found in humans. Cutting edge genome editing allows us to engineer the zebrafish brain with high precision to create zebrafish models for human diseases. These animal models are subjected to an interdisciplinary research program, using high content behavioral phenotyping and image analysis, as well as high throughput drug screening. Outcomes of this area of research aim at improving the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of epilepsy, and could ultimately lead to improved treatment strategies for stroke and FASD.

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Refreshments will be served.