How Does the Brain Develop?
Our lab studies how the human brain forms and changes during early development. We focus on neural stem cells and how their behaviour is shaped by genetic programs and by the environment, including maternal inflammation, stress and other physiological signals.
We use human stem cell–based models such as region-specific organoids, hippocampal organoids, and 3D co-cultures that capture key steps in cortical and hippocampal development. These models allow us to follow how neural stem cells build tissue structure, form circuits and interact with the surrounding matrix and immune cells.
A major aim of our work is to understand how changes in these early processes can lead to conditions such as autism, epilepsy and intellectual disability. By defining the mechanisms that guide normal development, we hope to identify how and when things go wrong.
The Kang–Berg Lab is based at the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen.
