Mahi Amer puts the Programme Grant members' brains through their paces

The Biomaterials Discovery Programme Grant held their seminar on Thursday 26 April and Mahi Amer gave a fascinating talk.

  Mahi Amer

Mahi’s talk was entitled: “New neurons in old brains?”: Can we, as adults, grow new neurons? Over the past 20 years, studies have shown that we indeed can, and I will present some research-based tips on how brains can better perform neurogenesis. However, a controversial study in Nature published last month threatens to crush medical hopes of utilising neurogenesis by suggesting that production of neurons declines sharply in children and stops by adulthood. The findings present a challenge to existing research, but also opens the door to exciting new questions about how the human brain adapts without supplies of new neurons.

It was a great chance to hear about Mahi’s interest in this area and a fantastic chance for the Programme Grant team to get together.