We are an interdisciplinary group of scientists in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering within the larger, collaborative research community at Arizona State University. We utilize approaches from stem cell biology, bioengineering, molecular biology, neuroscience, and bioinformatics to understand how the human brain is built from a cellular and molecular level. We explore the developmental trajectory of distinct cortical cell types and how disruption to typical programs can lead to intractable neurological disorders. In our studies we utilize pluripotent stem cell-based models, including neural organoids, co-culture systems, and transplantation models, to ask fundamental questions about human neural development.
We are a collaborative group of individuals who believe that inclusion and teamwork in science allows us to approach more innovative and exciting scientific questions together, than we can alone. In addition to the vibrant research environment of ASU, we are located in the heart of a clinically-oriented research community in the Phoenix metropolitan area with many opportunities for collaboration with Barrow Neurological Institute, Mayo Clinic, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Banner Health and others.