Speaker: Gerd Kempermann, Professor for Genomics of Regeneration at the Center of Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden; Director at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dresden

The Columbia Aging Center announces the launch of its Distinguished Lecturer Series with the October 12th talk by Gerd Kempermann, Professor for Genomics of Regeneration at the Center of Regenerative Therapies, Technical University Dresden, and Director at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Dresden. His research focuses on the generation of new neurons in the adult hippocampus of mice and humans using stem cell models.  This neurogenesis is a key structural aspect of plasticity.  Please join us for this special event on Monday, October 12th at 11:30 a.m. in Hess Commons located at the Mailman School of Public Health.

In this lecture, Dr. Kempermann asks what happens if, in the equation G x E describing the classical gene x environment interaction thought to be underlying complex traits, both variables are kept constant? Will individuality still emerge? In his study of genetically identical mice living in an enriched environment, his team found that individual longitudinal behavioral traits correlated with individual levels of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, the lifelong production of new neurons in the hippocampus. This observation and related findings raise interesting questions about the neurobiology of individuality and how we (or at least mice) become, what we (they) are.

Monday, October 12, 2015, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hess Commons •  Mailman School of Public Health • 722 W. 168th Street

** RSVP Requested. Please RSVP to Nana Asase: [email protected] **