The aim of our research program

Our overall goal is to understand how the intricate neural circuitry of the mammalian brain stem develops during embryonic and fetal life. To achieve this, we are identifying genes and characterizing gene interactions that pattern brainstem neurons known to be involved in specific autonomic functions. The neuron populations we are focusing on include somatic and visceral motoneurons, reticulospinal neurons, vestibular projection neurons, serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons, precerebellar neurons, trigeminal neurons, and neurons controlling breathing and cardiovascular function. Our approach is multidisciplinary and integrated. We bring a variety of state-of-the-art molecular genetic, neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and optical recording techniques to bear on the problem.

Who we are

The Brainstem Genetics Research Consortium consists of 7 groups: 6 academic research laboratories and 1 biotechnology company. We are supported by a research grant from the European Union through the 5th Framework Quality of Life Program (contract number QLG2-CT-2001-01467). The consortium is based at the University of Oslo, home institution of the coordinator Joel C. Glover. Partner groups are located in Norway, Sweden, England, and France.

Group leaders

Joel C. Glover Department of Physiology University of Oslo, Norway joel.glover@basalmed.uio.no Research interests: Development of brainstem and spinal neural networks and motor control. Specialization in the development of vestibular and reticulospinal systems. (View group members)    Filippo Rijli Institut de Genetique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) CNRS/INSERM/ULP, College de France Strasbourg, France rijli@igbmc.u-strasbg.fr Research interests: Developmental patterning of the vertebrate hindbrain. Specialization in the role of Hox genes in anteroposterior patterning. (View group members)    Christo Goridis   Jean-Francois Brunet   Departement de Biologie Ecole Normale Superieure CNRS, Paris, France goridis@biologie.ens.fr jbrunet@biologie.ens.fr Research interests: Genetic regulation of the development of autonomic neuron populations and connections. Specialization in the role of Phox2 genes in development of the autonomic nervous system. (View group members)    Johan Ericson Department of Cell and Molecular Biology Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden johan.ericson@cmb.ki.se Research interests: Developmental patterning of the spinal cord and brain stem. Specialization in the role of dorsoventral patterning genes. (View group members)    Jean Champagnat Neurobiologie Génétique et Intégrative CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France Jean.Champagnat@iaf.cnrs-gif.fr Research interests: Development and function of the neural systems controlling respiration. Specialization in electrophysiological studies of respiratory neurons. (View group members)    James Briscoe Developmental Neurobiology National Institute of Medical Research London, UK james.briscoe@nimr.mrc.ac.uk Research interests: Dorsoventral patterning of the spinal cord and brain stem. Specialization in the role of signaling pathways regulating the expression of dorsoventral patterning genes. (View group members)    Vincent Fert IPSOGEN Marseille, France fert@ipsogen.fr Commercial enterprise: Development of microarray platforms for cancer and developmental biology applications. (View group members)

Group members

Joel C. Glover’s group (Oslo, Norway)

From left: Ólafur Sigurjonsson, Vladimir Martinov, Joel Glover, Melinda Lillesand, Hiraku Mochida, Anton Hauge, Gamze Erguler, Jean-Sébastien Renaud, Ulla Vig Nissen

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Filippo Rijli’s group (Strasbourg, France)

From left: Fabio XXXX, Omar Abdel Samad, Samila Savioshian, Marc Geisen, Martine Poulet, Frank Ourly, Filippo Rijli

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Christo Goridis’ and Jean-Francois Brunet’s group (Paris, France)

Standing, from left: Juliette Richard. Murielle Rallu, Zoubida Chettouh, Jean-Francois Brunet, Christo Goridis, Nicolas Grillet, Alexandre Pattyn. Kneeling from left: Marie-Rose Hirsch, Heloise Dufour

 (back to Christo Goridis and Jean-Francois Brunet )

Johan Ericson's group at Karolinska Institute

(From left:)

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Jean Champagnat’s group (Gif-sur-Yvette, France)

From left: Annette Mont-Reynaud, Gilles Fortin, Muriel Thoby-Brisson, Christelle
Thaëron

 (back to Jean Champagnat)

James Briscoe’s group (London, UK)

From left : Anita Mynett, Martin Cheung, Vicky Tsoni, Despina Stamataki, Fausto Ulloa

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IPSOGEN (Marseille, France)

(From left:)

 (back to Vincent Fert)