Unraveling niche signals from blood vessels to neural stem cells in vivo.

Here, I propose to study the functional role of blood vessels in the neurogenic niche of the developing cortex by vessel-specific inhibition of their ingrowth into these compartments during development. I will analyze changes in expansion and differentiation as well as lineage commitment of neural stem cells in their niche after this intervention and identify the cellular mechanisms using a complementary, multidisciplinary approach comprising mouse genetics, cellular biology of neural stem cells in vivo, organotypic culture systems and state-of-the-art molecular biology. Moreover, I aim to reveal the molecular mechanisms, by which niche vessels direct the fate of neural stem cells and their progeny and the molecular consequences of niche vessel absence for these cells. Knowledge of such mechanisms may allow their manipulation to direct the expansion and lineage commitment of neural stem cells in vivo and in vitro for regenerative therapies.