Eyleen Goh

Brief Bio

Research Interest - Neurogenesis and regeneration of the central nervous system (CNS): The general interest of my lab is to determine how stem cells in the developing and adult brain can differentiate and develop into new neurons and functionally integrate into the existing circuitry. Using in vitro and in vivo assays established in the lab combining mouse genetics, anti-sense RNA technology, retroviral and lentiviral strategies, CRISPR-mediated KO or point mutations, in utero electroporation, stereotaxic injections, electrophysiology and animal behavior test to examine both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms responsible for neurogenesis in the developing and matured adult brains, and the associated cognitive functions. The lab has extended its research activities from understanding the fundamentals of neurogenesis to include several disease models such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (including Rett Syndrome (RTT) and macrocephaly), Carpenter syndrome (ciliopathy) and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to animal models, the lab is reprogramming and recapitulating neurodevelopmental diseases in vitro using human cells. Our stem cell studies also include genetically manipulating pluripotent stem cells to limit their self-renewal potential without affect pluripotency so as to render these cells safer and more suitable for transplantation (such as for treatment of neurological disorders). Using cell cultures, animal models and human patient-derived cells, the lab is also investigating the effects of micronutrients on neuronal development, circuitry and cognitive functions. This is to understand how micronutrients or the transport of these micronutrients affect brain functions and to determine if micronutrients can be used as treatment for neurological disorders. With regard to transport of micronutrients and drugs, we are also developing a 3D in vitro blood-brain-barrier (BBB) using microfluidic system. This in vitro 3D BBB system serves to bridge the gap between in vitro drug/compound screening in cultured cells and administration of drugs/compounds in animals in vivo.

Expertise

• Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
• Catecholamines
• Coenzymesp
• 38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Substrate Specificity
• Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
• Calcium Channels
• Calcium Signaling
• Cell Communication
• Chemotaxis
• Embryo, Nonmammalian
• Growth Cones
• Growth Inhibitors
• Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein