University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · NeuroscienceSpinal Cord Development and Function Lab
Helen Lai · Dallas, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Helen Lai's lab at UT Southwestern is focused on understanding how spinal cord cells develop and function by creating detailed atlases that map cell types from embryonic stages to adulthood. By exploring the lineage and molecular characteristics of these cells, the research aims to connect the dots between developmental processes and the adult spinal cord, particularly in relation to senses such as touch and pain. This work will not only enhance our understanding of spinal cell types but also potentially guide regenerative medicine efforts.
spinal cordneurodevelopmentcell lineageatlassomatosensationtranscription factorsmolecular profilingepigenomicsregenerative medicinemouse models
Research Aims
3AIM 01Generate a molecular signature developmental atlas of spinal cord progenitor cells.
AIM 02Create an anatomical phenotype atlas to visualize molecular signature distributions.
AIM 03Develop a three-dimensional lineage atlas of spinal cord cell types at adult stages.
Skills the Lab Values
molecular biologygenetic lineage tracing10x Genomics Multiomespatial transcriptomicshistological techniquesimmunohistochemistryFluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)3D imagingdata analysisCRISPR
Output against the department
Publications43bottom 8% of dept.615th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.8kbottom 10% of dept.601st of 671
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.