Tools
DREADDs
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are a potent tool to selectively silence or activate specific types of neurons in the nervous system. We use DREADDs technology to test the functional roles of neurons in neural progenitor cell grafts.
Neural Progenitor Cells
Neural progenitor cells are, in many respects, similar to stem cells in that they possess the ability to differentiate into different cell types. Neural progenitor cells are distinguished by the few types of cells they are capable of differentiating into, increasing their likelihood of eventually becoming the types of neurons that will facilitate desired therapeutic outcomes.
Transsynaptic Tracing
Transsynaptic tracing allows for a better understanding of the connectivity between host and graft neurons.
Viral Vector-Mediated Gene Delivery
The viral vector AAV6 is used to deliver a gene that encodes for inhibitory DREADDs into a model organism. An inert ligand such as clozapine-N-oxide is then introduced to bind with these DREADDs. This can result in the silencing of nociceptive activity.