Nutritional control of neural stem-cell quiescence and reactivation

The systemic regulation of stem cells ensures that they meet the needs of the organism during its growth and in response to injury. Stem cell populations in varied tissues spend much of their time in a mitotically dormant (quiescent) state; a key element of regulation is the decision between quiescence and proliferation. Using Drosophila as a model organism, Professor Brand aims to uncover how the environment, both systemic and local, influences neural stem-cell behaviour and the molecular mechanisms that control neural stem-cell quiescence and reactivation, in order to gain insights into tissue regeneration under normal and pathological conditions and in response to ageing.