“Human prefrontal cortex gene regulatory dynamics from gestation to adulthood at single-cell resolution”
Biography:
Dr. Herring is a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Ryan Lister’s laboratory at the University of Western Australia and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth, Western Australia. His focus is on bioinformatics and the analysis and development of tools for single-cell genomic data, particularly in the context of human brain development. His journey in this field began during graduate studies under the mentorship of Prof. Ken Lau at Vanderbilt University. There, he developed an algorithm from first principles to map cellular developmental landscapes. Following the completion of his Ph.D. in 2018, Dr. Herring joined Dr. Lister's lab as a postdoctoral fellow. A significant highlight of his recent work includes characterizing the gene regulatory landscape of the human prefrontal cortex from gestation to adulthood at single-cell resolution. This research has offered a pioneering insight into human brain development at the molecular level and its relevance to brain-related disorders.
Content and significance:
Human brain development is underpinned by cellular and molecular reconfigurations continuing into the third decade of life. To reveal cell dynamics orchestrating neural maturation, we profiled human prefrontal cortex gene expression and chromatin accessibility at single-cell resolution from gestation to adulthood. Integrative analyses define the dynamic trajectories of each cell type, revealing major gene expression reconfiguration at the prenatal-to-postnatal transition in all cell types followed by continuous reconfiguration into adulthood and identifying regulatory networks guiding cellular developmental programs, states, and functions. We uncover links between expression dynamics and developmental milestones, characterize the diverse timing of when cells acquire adult-like states, and identify molecular convergence from distinct developmental origins. We further reveal cellular dynamics and their regulators implicated in neurological disorders. Finally, using this reference, we benchmark cell identities and maturation states in organoid models. We are currently expanding our epigenetic profiling to include histone modifications at the single-cell level, providing deeper insights into the regulatory processes shaping cortical development. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance our understanding of the dynamic regulatory landscape governing human cortical development .
Times:
4:00 – 4:20pm: Arrival and refreshments
4:20 – 5:20pm: Seminar
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