Using an unsupervised approach, we mapped molecularly distinct Purkinje cell (PC) subtypes in the embryonic cerebellum into 3D space and linked them to the stripes and lobules of the adult cerebellum. We also examined how PC diversity shapes cerebellar morphogenesis, uncovering a subpopulation of PCs that may be critical for hemisphere formation and evolutionary expansion.

Our open-access paper is now available : FOXP genes regulate Purkinje cell diversity and cerebellar morphogenesis. Nature Neuroscience, 10.1038/s41593-025-02042-w.

 

We are thrilled to share that our research article, “FOXP genes regulate Purkinje cell diversity in cerebellar development ”, has been accepted for publication in Nature Neuroscience.

Originally posted as a preprint on bioRxiv, this study combines single-cell transcriptomics and spatial proteomics to reveal the previously unrecognized diversity of Purkinje cell subtypes and their spatial organization in the embryonic mouse cerebellum. We demonstrate that this cellular heterogeneity is closely linked to cerebellar patterning and adult organization, and is orchestrated by the combinatorial activity of Foxp genes. These findings uncover fundamental molecular programs driving cerebellar development and provide new insights into the evolution of cerebellar complexity.

Congratulations to Nagham Farah on her second high-profile first-author publication! Her creativity and perseverance were essential to the success of this work.

We are grateful to our collaborators and all who contributed, and we look forward to sharing the final published version soon.

Our research article, titled “FOXP Genes Regulate Purkinje Cell Diversity in Cerebellar Development and Evolution”, is published in bioRxiv ! In this study, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial mapping to identify previously unrecognized PC subtypes in the embryonic mouse cerebellum, shedding new light on the molecular heterogeneity of these cells and their relationship to adult cerebellar organization regulated by Foxp genes.

On July 25, 2024, Nagham successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “Cerebellar Hemisphere Formation: Purkinje Cell Diversity and the FOXP Code.” Her groundbreaking research has significantly advanced our understanding of cerebellar development. We are proud to celebrate her achievement and are delighted to welcome her as Dr. Farah. Congratulations, Nagham!

We’re delighted to share that Nagham Khouri-Farah has clinched the poster award at the Cerebellum Gordon Research Conference 2023. Adding to this accolade, Nagham has been invited to speak at the prestigious Neuroscience 2023 conference, an event organized by the Society for Neuroscience, this November. Join us in celebrating Nagham’s remarkable accomplishments and looking forward to her upcoming presentation!

Welcome Martina to our lab! We wish you the best of luck in your research journey with us.

Congratulations to Nagham Khouri-Farah for winning best poster at the Institute for Systems Genomics Networking Event on November 8, 2022. The poster was titled: “Purkinje Cell Heterogeneity Orchestrates Mammalian Cerebellar Development”.

Congratulations to Nagham Khouri Farah for receiving the 1st place Best Student Poster Award on the 39th Annual Graduate Student Research Day. Also, congratulations to her for being accepted for an oral presentation at the 2022 Gordon Research Conference on Neural Development.

Using integrated single-cell RNA and ATAC analyses, we resolved developmental trajectories of cerebellar progenitors, identified putative trans- and cis-elements that control cell state transition, and reverse-engineered gene regulatory networks of each cerebellar cell type. Check out the links to the paper and the datasets and computer codes.

A new manuscript on integrated single-cell RNA- and ATAC-seq analysis of embryonic mouse cerebellum is out. Check out the preprint on bioRxiv.