Joining the MIT faculty in 1984, Dr. McKay continued to examine different aspects of neuronal organization in the nervous system. His laboratory is studying stem cell differentiation.
Similar mechanisms control the differentiation of fetal and adult stem cells.
ES and CNS stem cells can be easily obtained. They provide ideal systems to analyze the mechanisms that control the number and types of cells in the brain. Neuronal differentiation is a complex process that requires interactions between different cells over several days. Cell culture systems are ideal to determine the signals that control neuronal differentiation. Astrocytes are present in large numbers in the nervous system and are closely associated with synapses.