Research

Goal

To better understand the complex state of the brain pathology, we seek to recapitulate the brain microenvironment that can address changes in physiological activity, cell-cell network, and transcriptome specific to a neurodegenerative disease, traumatic brain injury (TBI), brain cancer, or neuroinflammation.

Towards this end, our research focuses on topics as below.

Research Areas

Experimental and analytical brain model systems
(Ver. pathological, diagnostic, regenerative)

1. Brain-on-a-chip as a tool for understanding the neurovascular disorders

- Previously we used this model for studying ischemic stroke
- Currently we use/modify this model for studying the mechanisms underlying brain infection and delivery of immune cells across BBB

2. Neural organoid/glioma spheroid model for studying the interaction between the brain and brain tumor

Recently scientists discovered glioma forms synapses with neurons
We demonstrated glioma itself is electrically responsive
Currently we study the characteristic synaptic network between glioma and neurons using region-specific organoid/assembloid models

3. Electric field (E-Field) as a nerve regeneration cue

Previously we showed the effect of E-Field on neurite outgrowth is dependent on the developmental stage of a neuron
Currently we design a high-throughput E-Field platform to investigate whether E-Field mediates neural/glial differentiation

4. Analytical model for a quantitative interpretation of neural connection and network

Previously we employed mathematical algorithms to extract the neuronal structures and quantify the morphology from diverse image formats
Currently we are applying new parameters/algorithms to images to better understand the process underlying how neurons are guided and form networks
We also study correlation of morphological abnormality with transcriptomic changes

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