Overview

Myelin, the lipid-rich membrane produced by oligodendrocytes in the central and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system, provides mammals with an evolutionary advantage that insulates the axon, provides trophic support and ensures the rapid and efficient propagation of action potentials along its length.

My main research interest lies in the fields of myelination/ remyelination and axonal regeneration. I am studying the events leading to effective myelination during development as well as under demyelinating conditions both in vivo and in primary oligodendrocyte cultures. Furthermore, I am using the optic nerve crush model in wild type and transgenic mice trying to identify important molecular players and cellular pathways favoring axonal regeneration, remyelination and neuronal survival.