The Development of Neurogenesis Understanding
1998 Dr. Fred “Rusty” Gage’s laboratory discovers neurogenesis in the adult human brain.
1999 Dr. Gage’s laboratory shows that neurogenesis can be regulated.
2002 Dr. Gage’s laboratory demonstrates functional neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus
2003 Dr. René Hen’s laboratory confirms the link between depression and neurogenesis.
2005 BrainCells Inc. establishes human neural stem cell assays based on Dr. Gage’s research.
2007 Dr. Scott Small and colleagues use fMRI Cerebral Blood Volume mapping to identify changes in the human brain that correlate with exercise induced neurogenesis.
Neurogenesis & CNS Disease
In recent years, neurogenesis has scientifically emerged as a fundamental process underlying central nervous system physiology and disease. The founders of BrainCells are pioneers of neurogenesis research and have been at the center of this emerging field.
FRED GAGE SALK INSTITUTE
Neurogenesis Breakthroughs
In the late 1990’s BrainCells co-founder, Professor Fred Gage, demonstrated that neurogenesis occurs in the adult human brain and can be modulated by external factors, including drugs.
The link between neurogenesis and disease was established by another BrainCells co-founder, Prof. René Hen, who showed that marketed anti-depressants require neurogenesis to exert their clinical effect.
RENÉ HEN COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Testing the Neurogenesis Hypothesis
BrainCells is translating this new understanding of the biological basis for CNS diseases into practice with the development of an integrated testing platform and a new generation of clinical products.