Abstract:
Within the basal ganglia, the external globus pallidus (GPe) has long been recognised for its involvement in motor control. However, we lacked an understanding of precisely how movement is controlled at the GPe level as a result of its cellular complexity. In this talk, we will discuss the use of transgenic and cell-specific approaches to show that genetically-defined GPe neuron subtypes have distinct roles in regulating motor patterns.
Biography:
Dr. Chan started his research group in 2012 at Northwestern University, Department of Neuroscience/Physiology. The broad goal of the Chan Lab is to identify molecular entities and circuit elements that are involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer's disease. Our ultimate goal is to provide an improved framework for the development of novel treatments for these diseases. This is demonstrated by the clinical trials emerging from our research.