We are working together with 2 different projects to understand stem cell behavior. In these projects we have different perspectives for the term “cellular proliferation”. The first project is based on OPCs (oligodendrocyte precursor cells) in myelin regeneration. Although OPCs are the major population of the brain, remyelination often fails. Thus, we aim to understand molecular mechanisms of cellular fate of OPCs upon myelin damage. For this purpose, we are developing a new model to study remyelination using adult zebrafish. Using CVMI technique, we can induce focal demyelination in the brain and trace remyelination.

In the second project, we are investigating “over proliferation” or in the other words “cancer”. Cancer have been described as a wound that does not heal, which can be seen as an altered version of regeneration. In this project, we aim to identify this mechanism and conceive regeneration as a solution to cancer. For this purpose, we are comparing molecular signatures of regenerating brain and glioma. Furthermore, we will select differentially expressed genes for each group and modify cancer cells to imitate neuronal cells to investigate potential therapeutic approaches.