Regrowing the brain

Stem cells have the unique ability to become many different types of cells. This makes them an attractive tool for creating therapies to replace cells lost through disease or injury. Nowhere is this cell replacement more important than the brain, where the ability to naturally repair damage is woefully inadequate. Tim will talk about his research to uncover the complex combination of signals that controls stem cell behaviour in the brain, shedding light on a fascinating biological process, whilst potentially helping to pave the way for the regenerative stem cell therapies of the future.

You break your arm and your body heals, but Superman fell off a horse and never walked again. Why don't nerve cells regenerate in the same way? Simona will talk about how communication between cells in your brain affects how stem cells repair nerves. By influencing this communication she hopes to identify new treatments for brain damage.