Research Statement
Research in my laboratory is directed at understanding developmental and pathologic aspects of glial cell biology in the nervous system of the mouse, with a particular focus on astrocytes and their major intermediate filament protein, GFAP. Our main strategies involve genetic manipulation of glial gene expression using transgenic techniques, and gene targeting in embryonic stem cells, to generate mutant strains of mice. Current projects address a variety of topics such as regulation of gene expression, the role of GFAP mutations and accumulation in the pathogenesis of Alexander disease. A major effort is devoted to devising novel therapeutic strategies for treatment of this disorder, and identifying biomarkers to permit monitoring severity or progression of the disease.