Anastassia Voronova, Ph.D.
Contact
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medical Genetics Dept
- voronova@ualberta.ca
- Address
-
843-A Medical Sciences Building
8613 - 114 St NWEdmonton ABT6G 2H7
Overview
Area of Study / Keywords
Neural Stem Cell Brain development Brain regeneration Remyelination Oligodendrocyte Myelin Interneurons Multiple Sclerosis Autism Schizophrenia Neurodevelopmental disorders Ankrd11 KBG syndrome
About
Academic Degrees and Training:
B.Sc. - Tallinn University of Technology (2005)
M.Sc. - Tallinn University of Technology (2007)
Ph.D. - University of Ottawa (2012), Heart and Stroke Foundation Doctoral Student
Postdoctoral degree - The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto (2017), CIHR and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada research fellow
Research
One of the fundamental questions in neurobiology focuses on how neural stem cells build and repair the brain. In my lab, we use animal and primary cell culture models as well as cellular and molecular techniques to answer how neural stem cells generate their progeny, such as neurons and oligodendrocytes, in the developing brain. Specifically, we are investigating how neural stem cells are regulated by: 1) interactions with neighboring cells, such as inhibitory interneurons, and 2) autism-risk epigenetic genes. We are also investigating how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk epigenetic genes affect the development of the head (neural cranium), which is often perturbed in ASD. Our goal is to use the lessons learned from normal brain development to design novel therapies for neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders. In this light, we are investigating the effect of developmentally important interneuron-secreted cytokines on neural precursors in normal and injured adult murine brain. We are using mouse models of Multiple Sclerosis to assess the production of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and/or new myelin using transgenic animals under normal or demyelinating conditions.
Several projects are available for potential graduate students depending on experience and interest. Graduate students will learn the following techniques: transgenic animals, in utero electroporation and intracerebral ventricular injections (live animal surgery), primary cell culture, qPCR, western blots, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Students with an interest in neuroscience, developmental and stem cell biology are encouraged to apply. Please inquire via E-mail (voronova@ualberta.ca) with your transcript (unofficial is suitable) and a CV with the names of at least two academic referees.
Featured Publications
Engaging neural stem cells with hepatoma derived growth factor for enhanced oligodendrocyte production
2022 Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) meeting in Toronto, Canada.. 2022 May;
Fractalkine signalling modulates SVZ progenitor cell biology and enhances oligodendrogenesis
2022 International society for developmental neuroscience (ISDN) meeting in Vancouver, Canada . 2022 May;
Loss of chromatin regulator and ASD risk gene Ankrd11 results in abnormal oligodendroglial cell development
2022 International society for developmental neuroscience (ISDN) meeting in Vancouver, Canada . 2022 May;
Li Y.* (trainee), Dittmann N.L.* (trainee), Watson A.E.S. (trainee), de Almeida M.M.A. (trainee), Footz T. (trainee), Voronova A.
ASN Neuro. 2022 March; 14 10.1177/17590914221086340
Shaha S., Patel K., Saadat S., Panahi S., de Almeida M.M. (trainee), Voronova A., Riddell M.
PLACENTA. 2022 March; 119 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.01.015
Exogenous fractalkine enhances oligodendrogenesis and remyelination in the cuprizone-induced demyelination mouse model
2021 International Society for Neuroimmunology conference (virtual). 2021 December;
Fractalkine enhances oligodendrocyte genesis and remyelination in a multiple sclerosis mouse model
2021 Till & McCulloch Meeting (virtual). 2021 November;
Bhattacherjee A., Daskhan G.C., Bains A., Watson A.E.S. (trainee), Eskandari-Sedighi G., St. Laurent C.D., Voronova A., Macauley M.S.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE. 2021 October; 338 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.09.010
Watson A.E.S., de Almeida M.M.A., Dittmann N.L., Li Y., Torabi P., Footz T., Vetere G., Galleguillos D., Sipione S., Cardona A.E., Voronova A.
Stem Cell Reports. 2021 June; 16 (8):1968-1984 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.06.010
de Almeida M.M.A., Pieropan F., Footz T., David J.M., David J.P., da Silva V.D.A., dos Santos Souza C., Voronova A., Butt A.M., Costa S.L.
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology. 2021 April; 10.1007/s11481-021-09991-6
Roth D.M., Baddam P., Lin H., Vidal-García M., Aponte J.D., De Souza S.T., Godziuk D., Watson A.E.S., Footz T., Schachter N.F., Egan S.E., Hallgrímsson B., Graf D., Voronova A.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2021 April; 9 10.3389/fcell.2021.645386