Peter F. Hitchcock, Ph.D.
Research Projects

Research in Dr. Peter Hitchcock's lab is focused on the cellular and molecular biology of brain development, injury and regeneration. Currently two lines of research are being explored. The first is injury-induced neuronal regeneration in teleost fish; the second is ocular morphogenesis in mammals.

A hallmark of the human brain is that neural injuries are permanent; destroyed neurons are never replaced. In contrast, in the retina of the teleost fish, neuronal death stimulates regenerative neurogenesis and replacement of the damaged tissue. The lab is interested in the cellular and molecular events that underlie this amazing phenomenon. Lab staff use a variety of techniques, including light microscopy, immunocytochemistry, organ culture and molecular biology, in an attempt to identify the molecules and genes that are critical in the response of mature neurons to injury and the stimulation of neurogenesis.