Topic: Developmental strategies for wiring plasticity

Speaker: Prof. Mei Zhen

Time: 4:00-5:30 PM, 23 July, 2026

Venue: Lecture hall 111, Lynn Library

Abstract:

During development, neural circuits underline structural and functional maturation. Nanoscale connectomes, using volume electron microscopy, remain the gold standard for mapping structural wiring. We acquired the connectomes of many individuals from C. elegans, at sequential developmental timepoints, and as they make developmental decisions in response to environmental challenges. This talk shares insights on strategies of developmental plasticity, revealed by examining how structural and functional wiring are coordinated as the system matures.  

Introduction: 

Mei Zhen is a Senior Scientist at the Tanenbaum-Lunenfeld Research Institute and Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. She also serves as co-director of the Nanoscale Biomedical Imaging Facility and her research sits at the crossroads of developmental biology, neurobiology, and advanced imaging technology. She applies genetics, electrophysiology, electron microscopy, and functional imaging to address fundamental understanding of the C. elegans and mammalian sensorimotor system, as well as models for the congenital neurological conditions like CLFADD.  She is a Fellow of Royal Society Canada and currently holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in neuroscience. Past awards included fellowships at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and EMBL