Robert F. Hevner MD, PhD

Dr. Hevner studies the embryonic and postnatal development of the cerebral cortex, hipppocampus, and cerebellum in several strains of transgenic mice, seeking to elucidate the neurogenesis, migration, differentiation, axon guidance, and molecular properties of neurons. Studies are aimed at shedding light on normal development as well as on human neurodevelopmental disorders such as lissencephaly, in which the cortical layers do not form normally and neurological development is severely impaired.

Dr. Hevner’s studies involve three major themes: how the layer-specific properties of cortical projection neurons develop, how the cerebral cortex establishes connections with other brain regions, and how adult neurogenesis utilizes the same molecular programs as normal development. Disorders of cortical development may involve errors tied to the formation of specific layers of neurons in the cortex; learning to control such laminar fate specification might provide the possibility of regeneration of the nervous system, perhaps using engineered stem cells.