Bothwell, Mark

Our research focuses on receptor signal transduction in the brain, in embryonic development and in neurodegenerative diseases. Areas of special interest include neurotrophin receptor function, function of the beta amyloid precursor protein, and the function of primary cilia and the stem cell marker Prominin-1 in neural stem cells. One priority of the lab at the moment is to bring modern molecular genetic approaches to a classic system for study of nervous system development, the chick embryo.  Using transposon-based vectors with drug-controlled or tissue-specific promoters, focal electroporation of progenitor cells in the early chick embryo allows us to over-express or knock down expression of genes of interest in specific populations of neurons during defined windows of development.  Currently we are using this approach to study the mechanisms that control development of brain circuits responsible for hearing.  We are presently eager to recruit a new graduate student to work on this project, which represents a collaborative effort with several other UW labs.