Using zebrafish to study myelinated axons in vivo

The goal of David's Fellowship is to elucidate the biology of myelinated axon formation. Myelinated axons comprise about half the volume of our brain and spinal cord and the presence of myelin on axons is essential for nerve impulse conduction and long-term axonal health. It is well known that disruption to myelinated axons contributes to numerous diseases and it is now becoming clear that new myelin can be made throughout life, most likely to fine-tune nervous system function. David's laboratory uses live imaging, genetic and chemical biology approaches in zebrafish to discover the currently unknown mechanisms of myelination in vivo.