Springer Development and Engineering of Dopamine Neurons

The research directed towards unraveling the molecular programming of mdDA neurons continues to be highly exciting. This book provides an overview of the different stages that are distinguished during mdDA neuronal development. About the Author R. Jeroen Pasterkamp is an Assistant Professor at the Rudolf MagnusInstitute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, UniversityMedical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The focus of his laboratory isdirected towards understanding the molecular and intracellular signaling eventsinvolved in the formation of neuronal connections with a particular focus on thedeveloping dopamine system. His research team concentrates on the developingmouse embryo using an integrated approach involving molecular biology, cell biology,in vivo functional proteomics, and mouse genetics. He received his PhD fromthe Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) anddid his Postdoctoral at the Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins UniversitySchool of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. Marten Smidt is an Associate Professor at the Rudolf Magnus Instituteof Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, UniversityMedical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The focus of his laboratory isdirected towards understanding the developmental processes that underlie neuronaldifferentiation and specification. The main focus has been the development ofmesodiencephalic dopamine neurons. The work includes mouse genetics, moleculargenetics and molecular biology. Marten Smidt received his PhD from the Universityof Groningen (Groningen, The Netherlands) and did his postdoctoral at UtrechtUniversity, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute ofNeuroscience (Utrecht, The Netherlands). J. Peter H. Burbach is professor of Molecular Neuroscience at UtrechtUniversity and head of the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, RudolfMagnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, TheNetherlands. His research interests concern the role of transcription factors in development and regulation of peptidergic and dopaminergic neurons, and the molecularmechanisms of human neurodevelopmental disorders. He received his PhD fromUtrecht University and did postdoctoral work at the Clinical Research Institute ofMontreal, Canada. He obtained professorships in Molecular Biology and MolecularNeuroendocrinology. Since 2001 he is a Summer scientist at the Marine BiologicalLaboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA.