Adameyko Lab

The Laboratory of Igor Adameyko leads a diverse portfolio of projects that investigate fundamental questions in developmental neurobiology and neural crest dynamics. At present, our key focus is on understanding the gradual shifts in clonal composition during the development of the embryonic nervous system, uncovering how spatial and temporal cues shape cell fate decisions and contribute to tissue complexity. 

Another major research direction explores decision-making processes in the neural crest lineage and neurogenic placodes, which give rise to sensory organs such as the inner ear, olfactory epithelium, lens, and cranial ganglia. These studies use cutting-edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to unravel the molecular mechanisms guiding these critical developmental processes. 

The Adameyko Laboratory is adopting advanced methodologies in computational biology and machine learning to analyze complex neurodevelopmental processes and lineage dynamics. One of our significant achievements is the development (together with Kharchenko Lab at Altos) and application of Clone2Vec, an innovative machine learning framework designed to model clonal relationships and predict cellular behavior. By embedding high-dimensional clonal data into a meaningful vector space, Clone2Vec uncovers patterns in lineage trajectories, highlighting similarities of clonal structures and exploring transitions during development.  This method allows the lab to analyze vast datasets, such as those generated by clonal barcoding and single cell sequencing with unparalleled precision.

Additionally, the lab develops and integrates computational models for cell fate selection and decision-making, simulating how cells choose specific lineages or functions under varying developmental conditions. These tools also facilitate the reconstruction of complex cellular hierarchies, including those in neural crest cells, Schwann cell precursors, and neurogenic placodes.

The lab is also at the forefront of investigating the integrated development of the head and face, including the cellular and genetic basis of human facial individuality. By combining lineage tracing, molecular profiling, and computational modeling, the team seeks to understand how craniofacial structures are shaped during embryogenesis and how variations contribute to phenotypic diversity in humans.

In addition, the Adameyko Lab conducts translational studies connecting neural crest development to neural crest-derived tumors, such as neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and melanoma. These projects aim to identify the developmental origins of these malignancies and the genetic or environmental factors that drive tumor progression, with implications for new therapeutic strategies. A significant focus is also placed on the multipotency of nerve-associated Schwann cell precursors, which have the potential to differentiate into a variety of cell types beyond the nervous system. These studies explore how Schwann cell precursors contribute to tissue regeneration, repair, and tumor formation, highlighting their plasticity and relevance in both developmental and disease contexts.

This rich spectrum of projects underscores the lab’s integrative approach, combining experimental and computational tools to advance knowledge of neural crest biology, developmental processes, multipotency, and disease mechanisms.