Anastassia Voronova, Ph.D.

Contact

Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Medical Genetics Dept

Email: voronova@ualberta.ca
Address: 843-A Medical Sciences Building
8613 - 114 St NW

Edmonton AB

T6G 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.

Full publication list

Google scholar link

Lab website

Courses

MDGEN 601 - Selected Topics in Medical Genetics

A directed reading and seminar course based on papers taken from the recent literature of medical genetics. The course consists of lectures on a specific topic in medical genetics and oral presentations of the current literature by students. Selected topics vary so that students may take the same course but examining a different topic for additional credit. Prerequisite: consent of the Department of Medical Genetics.

Winter Term 2024

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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;

Hepatoma Derived Growth Factor Enhances Oligodendrocyte Genesis from Subventricular Zone Precursor Cells

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

Human placenta and trophoblasts simultaneously express three isoforms of atypical protein kinase-c

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;