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School of Neuroscience

Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

Building brains

Understanding how the human central nervous system (CNS) is built is one of the key remaining tasks in neurobiology. We investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of the nervous system. Our research focuses on brain regionalisation, tissue and cell morphogenesis, neurogenesis, neuronal fate specification and migration.

Our key questions:

What are the cellular and molecular mechanisms shaping the CNS?
How, and when, is cellular diversity defined and how is it tweaked by evolution?
What are the evolutionary dynamics controlling changes during CNS development?
How early in development are species-specific attributes defined? Are these developments irreversible?

Building brains is a key research theme of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, which brings together world-leading researchers across King's College London.

Click people profiles to discover their research:

Professor Esther Bell

Professor in Bioscience Education
Professor Benedikt Berninger

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Jon Clarke

Professor of Anatomy
Dr Alessio Delogu

Reader in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Phillip Gordon-Weeks

Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Anthony Graham

Professor of Developmental Biology
Dr Fursham Hamid

Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Professor Corinne Houart

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Dr Dimitar Kostadinov

Wellcome Trust CDA Research Fellow
Dr Ivo Lieberam

Senior Lecturer
Dr Katie Long

Research Fellow
Professor Oscar Marín

Professor of Neuroscience
Dr Setsuko Sahara

Lecturer
Dr Andrea Serio

Reader in Neural Tissue Engineering
Dr Rita Sousa-Nunes

Lecturer in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Deepak Srivastava

Professor of Molecular Neuroscience
Professor Guy Tear

Professor of Molecular Neurobiology
Professor Sandrine Thuret

Professor of Neuroscience
Professor Jernej Ule

Van Geest Professor of Neurodegeneration Research
Dr Darren Williams

Reader in Developmental Neurobiology
Professor Richard Wingate

Professor of Developmental Neurobiology

Early life and development

News and events

DNA helix main

13 December 2024

DNA Markers Influence Gene Expression in Different Cells and Tissues

A new study reveals key insight into how gene expression is regulated in health and disease.

landing page neuron

12 December 2024

Laura Andreae awarded a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant to uncover the rules behind neuronal development

The project Neuronal Trees: Linking Biology to Models looks at how neurons develop their complex…

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12 December 2024

CircadiAgeing Research Programme Awarded £4.4 million by BBSRC

The inter-university programme will look into the role of circadian rhythms in ageing through…

Two men and one woman stand in front of a projector screen

11 December 2024

Professor Robert Hindges delivers inaugural lecture "With an Eye on the Brain"

On 4 December 2024, Professor Hindges gave his inaugural lecture as a Professor of Developmental…