Marisa Karow is a prominent researcher recognized for her contributions to the fields of stem cell biology and tissue engineering at Friedrich Alexander Universität. In the Karow lab, the primary objective is to unravel the intricate mechanisms governing human neuron formation and to identify molecular targets that can enhance, guide, and correct defective neurogenesis.Their research employs two complementary approaches. The first involves inducing neurogenesis by overexpressing neurogenic transcription factors in non-neural brain-resident pericytes. The second approach employs brain organoids to investigate early facets of human neurogenesis and the underlying causes of neurodevelopmental disorders. Through their work, the Karow lab has illuminated the processes of neuron subclass specification and holds the potential to offer insights into the molecular foundations of neuropsychiatric disorders.