Zou Laboratory, Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Laboratory of Axonal Growth and Neuronal Regeneration

DRG Neurons

Cerebellar Granule Neurons

E12.5 DRG explant

The lab is interested in molecular mechanisms of how neurons are born, how they extend axons, and how they regenerate or fail to regenerate after mammalian CNS injury. We use mouse axon injury models, dissociated and explant neural cultures, molecular, cellular, biochemical and various imaging techniques to study classic and identify novel signaling pathways that promote neurogenesis and axonogenesis. Such knowledge is crucial for targeting molecules for effective CNS regeneration. Similar mechanisms also have relevance in CNS tumor biology. Developing strategies to shrink tumor cell by inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis or promoting differentiation will have great impact on treating primary CNS tumors.