Laura Morcom, BSc Hons, PhD

Years in the Richards Lab: 2011-2020

Position in the Richards Lab: PhD Student, Research Assistant

Thesis Title: Cellular and genetic regulation of interhemispheric fissure remodeling and corpus callosum formation

Description of Research: During cerebral development, callosal axons cross between bilateral cortices through a region that is developmentally separated by a structure comprising non-neural meninges, which is known as the interhemispheric fissure (IHF). We revealed that the IHF is remodeled, and replaced with a substrate of specialized astrocytes, which callosal axons use to grow between hemispheres. Failure of IHF remodeling is a major cause of congenital absence of the corpus callosum, and mammals that do not form a corpus callosum do not remodel the IHF, suggesting IHF remodeling is a requirement for development of this connection in the eutherian brain. We reveal that transcriptional regulation of astrocyte development via FGF8-NFI and cell shape modulation by DCC, DRAXIN and NTN1 are crucial for IHF remodeling.

Current Position: Research Associate

Current Affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Wellcome-MRC Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Lab Website: https://rowitchlab.medschl.cam.ac.uk/about-us/professor-david-rowitch/

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=6FTI8ZsAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao