Though the sense of touch is vital in daily life, it’s still a mystery how the nerve circuitry underlying this sense develops. Shan Meltzer is revealing how sensory neurons form the exquisite structures and connections that govern these cells’ functions. Using new genetic tools, she plans to find and manipulate the molecules that control touch sensory neuron development in mice. Her research could lead to new therapies for restoring touch in people with nervous system disorders or injuries.
A team led by HHMI Hanna Gray Fellow Shan Meltzer has created a detailed, cell-by-cell map of the spinal cord that offers a new framework for understanding chronic pain and provides a powerful new resource for the field.