Duke University · GeneticsThe NeuroGenesis Lab
Debra L. Silver · Durham, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Debra L. Silver's lab at Duke University studies how unique genetic features of humans affect brain development and function. They focus on special areas of DNA that control gene activity in the brain, particularly during the growth of neural stem cells. By understanding these processes, the lab aims to uncover the biological foundations of human intelligence and how they relate to neurological disorders.
brain developmenthuman evolutionneural stem cellsgene regulationWNT signalingneurogenesiscognitive functionneurodevelopmental disordersmRNA localization
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of human-specific enhancers in brain development.
AIM 02Explore how RNA localization affects signaling in neural stem cells.
AIM 03Examine the impact of WNT signaling on neurogenesis.
AIM 04Characterize the molecular composition of radial glia cell endfeet during development.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelshuman induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)organoid culturegenetic toolsimmunofluorescenceRNA sequencingmolecular cloningcell culturelive-cell imaging
Output against the department
Publications116bottom 37% of dept.162nd of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.9kbottom 27% of dept.188th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.