A special SISSA colloquium with prof. Bassem Hassan (Paris Brain Institute, ICM)

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons. I will explore the idea that genetic forms of neurodegenerative disorders might be rooted in neural development. Focusing on Alzheimer’s disease, I will first provide a brief overview of AD pathology and then discuss recent evidence promoting the notion that it might be rooted in neurodevelopmental deficits and that certain such features of brain development, notably human-specific regulation of neurogenic time, might be key to understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of human neurodegenerative disease.

Bassem Hassam is the current Scientific Director and Deputy General Director at The Paris Brain Institute (ICM) in Paris, France, where he leads efforts in understanding the genetic mechanisms of early nervous system development. His work utilizes fruit fly, mouse, and human iPS models to explore the roles of transcriptional regulation and cell-cell signaling in neuron identity and connectivity, and revealed significant insights into brain development and the emergence of neural circuit architecture.

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