Laboratory of Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration
About
Welcome to the website of the research group Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration of the K.U.Leuven! Together with the research groups of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics (Prof. L. Arckens), Comparative Endocrinology (Prof. V. Darras), Insect Physiology and Molecular Ethology (Prof. R. Huybrechts), Functional Genomics and Proteomics (Prof. L. Schoofs), and Molecular Developmental Physiology and Signal Transduction (Prof. J. Vanden Broeck), we form the Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section of the Department of Biology. Our lab is located in the historical College Premonstreit in the very heart of Leuven.
Group
The research group Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration was recently established with the appointment of Lieve Moons, in October 2007, as a full-time professor within the Unit Animal Physiology and Neurobiology of the Biology Department at KULeuven.
Over the last 12 years Lieve Moons has been working as a group leader in the Vesalius Research Center (previously Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy), where she contributed to an extensive research program in vascular and neural development and in cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Her research focused on the application of functional genomics technologies (gene targeting, gene knock-down and gene or stem cell transfer) in animal models, to disentangle the molecular and cellular pathways involved in human disease, primarily focusing on cardiovascular and neurological disorders (e.g. atherosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and neurodegeneration). Via the proposed integration of genetics and physiology using various animal models (fish, frogs, mice), the overall goal was to generate genetic insights, which could subsequently be translated into validation of novel therapeutic strategies using these animal models.
The ‘young’ research group currently consists of three PhD students, three part-time lab technicians and two part-time administrative staff members.
Research
The overall goal of the ongoing research program is to investigate the involvement of specific MMPs and their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), in neural circuit development, remodelling and regeneration, by using mouse and zebrafish models to study neuronal patterning (developmental patterning in the cerebellum; cerebellar remodelling and plasticity after toxic injury) and axon guidance (midline crossing of commissural axons during development, retinotectal axon pathfinding during development and after optic nerve axotomy). Various transgenic technologies (use of knockout mice, knock-down or overexpression using plasmid electroporation and/or morpholino technology) and in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro experiments will be used to define the importance of MMPs/TIMPs in neuronal patterning and axon guidance and to determine the underlying mechanisms and substrate interactions.
Education
Besides the introductory course "Medical Biology", teached in the bachelor programmes of Medicine and of Biomedical Sciences, our lab is responsible for more specialized courses and practicals in the bachelors of Biology and of Biochemistry & Biotechnology with a course entitled "Comparative Animal Physiology" and in the masters of Sexual Sciences with a course entitled: “Biological Aspects of reproduction”. Every year we are joined by Biology, Biochemistry & Biotechnology and/or Bioscience Engineering students who come to our lab to make their bachelor or master thesis (information only in Dutch).
Interested?
Very motivated students or researchers interested in joining the group or scientists interested in collaboration should contact Prof. L. Moons. Opportunities for funding of travel and subsistence are available at several granting agencies (international students, doctoral students, researchers; Marie Curie actions).
Current vacancies
Effective immediately, the Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration group of the Biology Departement (http://bio.kuleuven.be/df/LM) at the K.U.Leuven has a vacancy for a young post-doctoral student with experience in molecular biology.
