Our laboratory is interested in adult neural stem cells and their roles in the normal brain functions and disease pathology. The adult mammalian brains have been considered as a post-mitotic structure that is not capable of generating new neurons. Contrary to this belief, adult neural stem cells are present in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the adult hippocampus, and they continuously produce new neurons that integrate into the pre-existing neural circuits. Now, new memory formation, skill acquisition, and mood control are partially attributable to the brain plasticity at the level of cell genesis. In addition, the possibility that adult neurogenesis may be a novel target for neurodegenerative disease opens a new era in which neural stem cells can be used for therapeutic applications to intervene in the progress of brain pathology.

Our laboratory has two directions; we plan to 1) understand molecular and cellular mechanisms that are responsible for adult neurogenesis, and 2) determine neural circuits that the hippocampal new neurons specifically interact with to exert the hippocampus-dependent cognition and emotion. Our research will not only contribute to understanding of the physiological role of adult neurogenesis, but also provide the essential knowledge to develop neural stem cell mediated therapy to intervene and cure brain diseases.