Fully Funded PhD studentship: Characterisation of cortical neural precursor cell defects in DLG2-/- Human Brain Organoids

Vacancy Reference Number

FNS_JShinMay23

Closing Date

23 Jun 2023

Salary

£18,622

Address

School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Huxley Building, Keele ST5 5BG, UK

Duration

3 years

Deletions in DLG2 gene have been found in people with Schizophrenia. We have shown that human neurons lacking DLG2 exhibit developmental delay (Sanders et al., 2022, Nat Commun). Neural precursor cells lacking DLG2 showed significant gene expression changes, but phenotypes were not investigated previously. Brain organoids made from human embryonic stem cells allow investigation of 3D spatial arrangement of cells and structured cellular interaction. We propose to study the impact of DLG2 deficiency on subtypes, morphology and behaviour of neural precursor cells and their interaction with migrating neurons in brain organoids. This may unveil a novel prenatal disease pathway contributing to Schizophrenia.

Contact Details

E-mail inquires to the lead supervisor Dr. Eunju Jenny Shin (e.shin@keele.ac.uk)