Wesleyan Home → Biology → Research Areas

Faculty by Research Area

Cell and Developmental Biology, Genetics

Ann Burke

Professor of BiologyShow Bio and Photo

Stephen Devoto

Associate Professor of BiologyShow Bio and Photo

Laura Grabel

Lauren B. Dachs Professor of Science and SocietyShow Bio and Photo

Ruth Johnson

Assistant Professor of BiologyShow Bio and Photo

Janice Naegele

Professor of BiologyShow Bio and Photo

Professor of Biology
Hall-Atwater Laboratories 254
860-685-3232

Professor, Neuroscience & Behavior
860-685-3232

jnaegele@wesleyan.edu

BA Mount Holyoke College
PHD Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Personal Web Site:
http://naegelelab.research.wesleyan.edu/

Research Interests:
Loss of GABAergic interneurons contributes to the development of spontaneous seizures in severe human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and in rodent models of TLE. Our research focuses on neural stem cell-based repair of the nervous system damage. Currently we are investigating GABAergic interneuron replacement in temporal lobe epilepsy using two different stem cell sources - fetal telencephalon and mouse and human embryonic stem cells. We have discovered that GABAergic progenitor grafts suppress spontaneous seizures for extended periods of time in the rodent brain. We have also demonstrated long-term survival, migration, and integration of ES cell-derived neurons in the adult hippocampus. The questions we are now pursuing are: 1) what are the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating long-term survival and integration of transplanted cells in the adult brain? 2) what are the major differences in neural repair capacity of GABAergic neural progenitors derived from ES cells vs. fetal brain? Our research in collaboration with Gloster Aaron and Laura Grabel utilizes mouse and human embryonic stem cell derived progenitors for transplantation into mouse models of epilepsy and a broad range of vitro and in vivo methodologies.

Scholarly Keywords:
Mouse and human embryonic stem cells; fetal telencephalon neural stem cells, mouse models of epilepsy, electroencephalography (EEG recordings), immunohistochemistry, neurodegeneration, apoptosis

Academic Associations:
International Society for Stem Cell Research Society for Neuroscience AAAS American Epilepsy Society Women in Neuroscience Connecticut SFN chapter American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair

Grants:
Connecticut Stem Cell Initiative

Lab URL:
http://naegelelab.research.wesleyan.edu/

Publications:
http://naegelelab.research.wesleyan.edu/publications/

Epilepsy Currents

Frontiers in Neurogenesis

Brain and Development

Epilepsy Foundation of Connecicut

Michael Weir

Professor of BiologyShow Bio and Photo