Alena will be working in Anders Nykjær's group where she will investigate the function of SorCS2 during embryogenesis with a particular focus on development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. She will take advantage of multiple tools including biochemical assays, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, RNA scope in situ hybridization, and confocal microscopy, and she will use fish and mice as model organisms. Alena’s study will lead to better understanding of mechanisms involved in the midbrain development and in cell communication of dopaminergic neurons. Such knowledge can be implemented in regenerative medicine in order to develop new therapies for Parkinson's disease patients who suffer with a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons.