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.

My research is examining whether there are any NSCs and their descendent progenitor cells in AD human patients using post-mortem tissue samples. I will inspect the NSCs and progenitor cells in terms of their distributions, properties and what cell types they give rise to. Likewise, I will also examine NSCs and their descendent progenitor cells in a mouse model of AD and evaluate the ability of NSCs to generate new neurons. Altogether, my research will provide a fundamental understanding of neuron-generating mechanisms in humans throughout adult life, the consequence of extensive neuronal loss in AD on NSCs and progenitor cells, as well as the influence of aging on progression of AD. Ultimately, my research will provide valuable information when considering therapeutic application of replacing neurons from NSCs.

Contact Athena at: avlchou@interchange.ubc.ca