David M. Hollis

Research
As adults, anamniotic vertebrates (fish and amphibians) maintain a tremendous capacity to regenerate and repair their central nervous systems. Our lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms that govern this ability; an ability which is severely limited in mammals. Further, because many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in post-embryonic neurogenesis are similar to those in embryonic nervous system development, our lab is also interested in those same mechanisms at different developmental stages.

Our lab is focused on genes that code for proteins with known functional roles in synapse development, stem cell proliferation, and the facilitation of axonal outgrowth. Specifically, our lab is investigating the roles of the small molecule GTPase, Rem2, and the membrane-associated lipid phosphate phosphatase, Plasticity-related gene 1 (Prg-1) in brain repair and development. We use the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and more recently, the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus / Rana catesbeiana), as model systems in the hope of gaining insight into the discrepancies between vertebrates with regard to adult neurogenesis.