We are working on the mammalian cerebral cortex and how its development is controlled by cell-cell signalling mediated by primary cilia. Cilia are small protrusion from the cell surface that harbour the receptors of most signalling pathways and allow for extensive communication between neural stem cells, neurons, glial cells and their environment. Using human organoid models, we investigate how mutations in ciliary genes affect key steps in corticogenesis such as patterning, neural stem cell behaviour, neurogenesis and neuron maturation. Our findings have implications for understanding the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/discovery-brain-sciences/our-staff/research-groups/thomas-theil