Photo: Bengt Mattsson

My group works with translational stem cell biology. The focus of my research is to understand cell fate specification in the developing brain and in human neural progenitor cells using cell-based models of neuronal differentiation. Our current focus is to learn how to direct and efficiently drive controlled differentiation of human stem cells into subtype-specific neurons. We also develop technologies for direct conversion of human fibroblasts into functional and subtype-specific neurons in vitro, and the conversion of endogenous glia into neurons in vivo.
The ultimate aim is to develop these cells and technologies for use in brain repair, with focus on Parkinson’s disease.

Most recent publications:

Johansson P.A., Per Ludvik Brattås P.L., Douse Ch.H., Hsieh PH, Adami A, Pontis J, Grassi D, Garza R, Sozzi E, Cataldo R, Jönsson M.E., Atacho D.A.M., Pircs K, Eren F, Sharma Y, Johansson J, Fiorenzano A, Parmar M, Fex M, Trono D, Eichler E.E.
A cis-acting structural variation at the ZNF558 locus controls a gene regulatory network in human brain development ^{OPEN ACCESS}
Cell Stem Cell, 7 oktober 2021

•  publication in CellStemCell.pdf

Malin Parmar, Anders Björklund, Tomas Björklund
In vivo conversion of dopamine neurons in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease — a future approach for regenerative therapy?
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, Volume 70, October 2021, Pages 76-82

Alessandro Fiorenzano, Edoardo Sozzi, Malin Parmar and Petter Storm
Dopamine Neuron Diversity: Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Human Stem Cell Models and Single Cell Sequencing ^{OPEN ACCESS}
Cells 2021, 10(6), 1366

•  publication in Cells.pdf