Bruce A. Hamilton, Ph.D.

Research

My lab uses genetics, molecular biology and cell biology to understand development and disease in the mammalian nervous system. We are particularly interested in transcriptional integration of diverse signaling pathways that influence the differentiation or renewal of neural stem cells and committed progenitors. We study this process in the development of the embryonic mouse cerebellum and in the maintenance of adult neural stem cells in forebrain. We are also interested in common genetic architectures, particularly in the context of modifier genes that influence penetrance of genetic disease pathways. Our current research areas include: 1) Genetic suppression of endogenous retrovirus mutations by natural variation in mRNA processing and export machinery 2) Transcriptional control of cerebellum development 3) Neurodegeneration, tremor, phosphoinositides and vibrator 4) Human genetic variation in autonomic control of blood pressure.