James Briscoe: The Dynamics of Spinal Cord Development

James Briscoe
The Francis Crick Institute

Host: Mina Gouti

The Dynamics of Spinal Cord Development

The development of functional tissues requires precise spatial and temporal control of cell fate specification. Using the vertebrate spinal cord as a model system, we investigate how molecular signals, cellular behaviours, and tissue-level changes integrate to generate distinct neuronal subtypes in a defined spatial pattern along the dorsal-ventral axis. We focus on how the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) coordinates gene regulatory networks to control cell fate decisions. By combining in vivo and in vitro experimental approaches with computational modelling and theoretical frameworks, we examine how dynamic processes – including tissue growth, cell arrangement, and temporal changes in signalling – contribute to the pattern, pace, precision, and proportions of the developing neural tube. This integrative approach reveals fundamental principles of how cellular and molecular mechanisms interact to ensure robust tissue development.

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