Graduate Student, Cell and Developmental Biology
I am interested in whether the neurogenic niche is present and active in Alzheimer's disease brain. There are two regions in mammalian brain where adult neurogenesis occurs: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. Despite the extensive capacity for neurogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease show distinct deficits in various brain regions including hippocampus and olfactory bulb. The aim of my research is to reveal whether the neurogenic niche exists in human Alzheimer's disease brain and also to examine whether neurogenic niche can contribute to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease over time. Currently, I am studying the neural stem cells niche using different proliferative and progenitor
markers. In the near future, I will characterize the neurogenic zones in human brain and will also analyze the progenitors in neurogenic zones of Alzheimer's disease mouse model in terms of neurogenic potential.

Contact Athena at: avlchou@interchange.ubc.ca