Key Documents

Curriculum Vitae available Online

Susan McConnell

Member, Bio-X

Contact Information

Clinical Offices
Academic Offices

Personal Information
Email suemcc@stanford.edu Tel (650) 725-8786

Administrative Contact
Elyse Pierson Administrative Assistant Email epierson@stanford.edu Tel Work 650-725-4816

Honors and Awards

Elected Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006)
McKnight Investigator, McKnight Foundation (1997)
SFN Young Investigator Award, Society for Neuroscience (1995)
Terman Fellow, Stanford University (1994)
McKnight Scholar, McKnight Foundation (1993)
NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow, National Science Foundation (1993)
NSF Presidential Young Investigator, National Science Foundation (1991)
Sloan Research Fellow, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1991)
Pew Scholar, Pew Charitable Trust (1989)
Searle Scholar, Searle Trust (1989)
Clare Booth Luce Professor, Henry Luce Foundation (1989-1994)

Professional Education

A.B., Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges Biology (1980)
Ph.D., Harvard University Neurobiology (1987)

Research Interests

Susan McConnell is the Susan B. Ford Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University. She joined the Stanford faculty in 1989. McConnell studies the development of the cerebral cortex, the brain region that controls our highest cognitive and perceptual functions. The nerve cells of the cortex are generated during fetal life; once these cells are ‘born,’ they migrate over long distances before forming connections with other nerve cells. McConnell explores the mechanisms by which young neurons acquire an identity and establish specific connections. Her studies provide insights into the process of how the brain wires itself up during normal development.

Publications

The Fezf2-Ctip2 genetic pathway regulates the fate choice of subcortical projection neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. Chen B, Wang SS, Hattox AM, Rayburn H, Nelson SB, McConnell SK. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008; 105 (32): 11382-7
Satb2 regulates callosal projection neuron identity in the developing cerebral cortex. Alcamo EA, Chirivella L, Dautzenberg M, Dobreva G, Fariñas I, Grosschedl R, McConnell SK. Neuron. 2008; 57 (3): 364-77
The determination of projection neuron identity in the developing cerebral cortex. Leone DP, Srinivasan K, Chen B, Alcamo E, McConnell SK. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2008; 18 (1): 28-35
Ongoing sonic hedgehog signaling is required for dorsal midline formation in the developing forebrain. Hayhurst M, Gore BB, Tessier-Lavigne M, McConnell SK. Dev Neurobiol. 2008; 68 (1): 83-100
Visualization of embryonic neural stem cells using Hes promoters in transgenic mice. Ohtsuka T, Imayoshi I, Shimojo H, Nishi E, Kageyama R, McConnell SK. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2006; 31 (1): 109-22
Boc is a receptor for sonic hedgehog in the guidance of commissural axons. Okada A, Charron F, Morin S, Shin DS, Wong K, Fabre PJ, Tessier-Lavigne M, McConnell SK. Nature. 2006; 444 (7117): 369-73
Cytoskeletal coordination during neuronal migration. Schaar BT, McConnell SK. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102 (38): 13652-7
Gene targeting using a promoterless gene trap vector ("targeted trapping") is an efficient method to mutate a large fraction of genes. Friedel RH, Plump A, Lu X, Spilker K, Jolicoeur C, Wong K, Venkatesh TR, Yaron A, Hynes M, Chen B, Okada A, McConnell SK, Rayburn H, Tessier-Lavigne M. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102 (37): 13188-93
Fezl regulates the differentiation and axon targeting of layer 5 subcortical projection neurons in cerebral cortex. Chen B, Schaevitz LR, McConnell SK. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005; 102 (47): 17184-9
Doublecortin microtubule affinity is regulated by a balance of kinase and phosphatase activity at the leading edge of migrating neurons. Schaar BT, Kinoshita K, McConnell SK. Neuron. 2004; 41 (2): 203-13
BMP ligands act redundantly to pattern the dorsal telencephalic midline. Hébert JM, Hayhurst M, Marks ME, Kulessa H, Hogan BL, McConnell SK. Genesis. 2003; 35 (4): 214-9
Mouse models of holoprosencephaly. Hayhurst M, McConnell SK. Curr Opin Neurol. 2003; 16 (2): 135-41
FGF signaling through FGFR1 is required for olfactory bulb morphogenesis. Hébert JM, Lin M, Partanen J, Rossant J, McConnell SK. Development. 2003; 130 (6): 1101-11
Regulated nuclear trafficking of the homeodomain protein otx1 in cortical neurons. Zhang YA, Okada A, Lew CH, McConnell SK. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2002; 19 (3): 430-46
BMP signaling is required locally to pattern the dorsal telencephalic midline. Hébert JM, Mishina Y, McConnell SK. Neuron. 2002; 35 (6): 1029-41
Telencephalon-specific Rb knockouts reveal enhanced neurogenesis, survival and abnormal cortical development. Ferguson KL, Vanderluit JL, Hébert JM, McIntosh WC, Tibbo E, MacLaurin JG, Park DS, Wallace VA, Vooijs M, McConnell SK, Slack RS. EMBO J. 2002; 21 (13): 3337-46
FGFR1 is required for the development of the auditory sensory epithelium. Pirvola U, Ylikoski J, Trokovic R, Hébert JM, McConnell SK, Partanen J. Neuron. 2002; 35 (4): 671-80
Neurotrophin-3 is required for appropriate establishment of thalamocortical connections. Ma L, Harada T, Harada C, Romero M, Hebert JM, McConnell SK, Parada LF. Neuron. 2002; 36 (4): 623-34
Distinct origins of neocortical projection neurons and interneurons in vivo. Anderson SA, Kaznowski CE, Horn C, Rubenstein JL, McConnell SK. Cereb Cortex. 2002; 12 (7): 702-9
NudC associates with Lis1 and the dynein motor at the leading pole of neurons. Aumais JP, Tunstead JR, McNeil RS, Schaar BT, McConnell SK, Lin SH, Clark GD, Yu-Lee LY. J Neurosci. 2001; 21 (24): RC187
Doublecortin interacts with mu subunits of clathrin adaptor complexes in the developing nervous system. Friocourt G, Chafey P, Billuart P, Koulakoff A, Vinet MC, Schaar BT, McConnell SK, Francis F, Chelly J. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2001; 18 (3): 307-19
Targeted mutagenesis of Lis1 disrupts cortical development and LIS1 homodimerization. Cahana A, Escamez T, Nowakowski RS, Hayes NL, Giacobini M, von Holst A, Shmueli O, Sapir T, McConnell SK, Wurst W, Martinez S, Reiner O. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001; 98 (11): 6429-34
Temporally and spatially regulated expression of a candidate G-protein-coupled receptor during cerebral cortical development. Chenn A, Levin ME, McConnell SK. J Neurobiol. 2001; 46 (3): 167-77
Progressive restriction in fate potential by neural progenitors during cerebral cortical development. Desai AR, McConnell SK. Development. 2000; 127 (13): 2863-72
Targeting of cre to the Foxg1 (BF-1) locus mediates loxP recombination in the telencephalon and other developing head structures. Hébert JM, McConnell SK. Dev Biol. 2000; 222 (2): 296-306
Developmental expression pattern of the cdo gene. Mulieri PJ, Okada A, Sassoon DA, McConnell SK, Krauss RS. Dev Dyn. 2000; 219 (1): 40-9
Cortical degeneration in the absence of neurotrophin signaling: dendritic retraction and neuronal loss after removal of the receptor TrkB. Xu B, Zang K, Ruff NL, Zhang YA, McConnell SK, Stryker MP, Reichardt LF. Neuron. 2000; 26 (1): 233-45
Regional differences in the developing cerebral cortex revealed by ephrin-A5 expression. Mackarehtschian K, Lau CK, Caras I, McConnell SK. Cereb Cortex. 1999; 9 (6): 601-10
Imaging cells in the developing nervous system with retrovirus expressing modified green fluorescent protein. Okada A, Lansford R, Weimann JM, Fraser SE, McConnell SK. Exp Neurol. 1999; 156 (2): 394-406
Cortical neurons require Otx1 for the refinement of exuberant axonal projections to subcortical targets. Weimann JM, Zhang YA, Levin ME, Devine WP, Brûlet P, McConnell SK. Neuron. 1999; 24 (4): 819-31
Doublecortin is a developmentally regulated, microtubule-associated protein expressed in migrating and differentiating neurons. Francis F, Koulakoff A, Boucher D, Chafey P, Schaar B, Vinet MC, Friocourt G, McDonnell N, Reiner O, Kahn A, McConnell SK, Berwald-Netter Y, Denoulet P, Chelly J. Neuron. 1999; 23 (2): 247-56
Intrinsic polarity of mammalian neuroepithelial cells. Chenn A, Zhang YA, Chang BT, McConnell SK. Mol Cell Neurosci. 1998; 11 (4): 183-93
Determination of the migratory capacity of embryonic cortical cells lacking the transcription factor Pax-6. Cari? D, Gooday D, Hill RE, McConnell SK, Price DJ. Development. 1997; 124 (24): 5087-96
Induction of deep layer cortical neurons in vitro. Bohner AP, Akers RM, McConnell SK. Development. 1997; 124 (4): 915-23
Postmitotic neurons migrate tangentially in the cortical ventricular zone. O'Rourke NA, Chenn A, McConnell SK. Development. 1997; 124 (5): 997-1005
Restriction of late cerebral cortical progenitors to an upper-layer fate. Frantz GD, McConnell SK. Neuron. 1996; 17 (1): 55-61
Constructing the cerebral cortex: neurogenesis and fate determination. McConnell SK, Neuron. 1995; 15 (4): 761-8
Cleavage orientation and the asymmetric inheritance of Notch1 immunoreactivity in mammalian neurogenesis. Chenn A, McConnell SK. Cell. 1995; 82 (4): 631-41
Plasticity and commitment in the developing cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Prog Brain Res. 1995; 105 129-43
Tangential migration of neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. O'Rourke NA, Sullivan DP, Kaznowski CE, Jacobs AA, McConnell SK. Development. 1995; 121 (7): 2165-76
Strategies for the generation of neuronal diversity in the developing central nervous system. McConnell SK, J Neurosci. 1995; 15 (11): 6987-98
Subplate pioneers and the formation of descending connections from cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Ghosh A, Shatz CJ. J Neurosci. 1994; 14 (4): 1892-907
Differential expression of synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) isoforms. Bajjalieh SM, Frantz GD, Weimann JM, McConnell SK, Scheller RH. J Neurosci. 1994; 14 (9): 5223-35
Regulation of the POU domain gene SCIP during cerebral cortical development. Frantz GD, Bohner AP, Akers RM, McConnell SK. J Neurosci. 1994; 14 (2): 472-85
Otx1 and Otx2 define layers and regions in developing cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Frantz GD, Weimann JM, Levin ME, McConnell SK. J Neurosci. 1994; 14 (10): 5725-40
Cell migration in cultured cerebral cortical slices. Roberts JS, O'Rourke NA, McConnell SK. Dev Biol. 1993; 155 (2): 396-408
The control of neuronal identity in the developing cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1992; 2 (1): 23-7
Diverse migratory pathways in the developing cerebral cortex. O'Rourke NA, Dailey ME, Smith SJ, McConnell SK. Science. 1992; 258 (5080): 299-302
Perspectives on early brain development and the epilepsies. McConnell SK, Epilepsy Res Suppl. 1992; 9 183-9; discussion 189-91
Cell cycle dependence of laminar determination in developing neocortex. McConnell SK, Kaznowski CE. Science. 1991; 254 (5029): 282-5
Morphology of pioneer and follower growth cones in the developing cerebral cortex. Kim GJ, Shatz CJ, McConnell SK. J Neurobiol. 1991; 22 (6): 629-42
The generation of neuronal diversity in the central nervous system. McConnell SK, Annu Rev Neurosci. 1991; 14 269-300
The specification of neuronal identity in the mammalian cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Experientia. 1990; 46 (9): 922-9
Functional synaptic circuits in the subplate during fetal and early postnatal development of cat visual cortex. Friauf E, McConnell SK, Shatz CJ. J Neurosci. 1990; 10 (8): 2601-13
Requirement for subplate neurons in the formation of thalamocortical connections. Ghosh A, Antonini A, McConnell SK, Shatz CJ. Nature. 1990; 347 (6289): 179-81
Pioneer neurons and target selection in cerebral cortical development. Shatz CJ, Ghosh A, McConnell SK, Allendoerfer KL, Friauf E, Antonini A. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1990; 55 469-80
Subplate neurons pioneer the first axon pathway from the cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Ghosh A, Shatz CJ. Science. 1989; 245 (4921): 978-82
The determination of neuronal fate in the cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Trends Neurosci. 1989; 12 (9): 342-9
Development and decision-making in the mammalian cerebral cortex. McConnell SK, Brain Res. 1988 Jan-Mar; 472 (1): 1-23
Fates of visual cortical neurons in the ferret after isochronic and heterochronic transplantation. McConnell SK, J Neurosci. 1988; 8 (3): 945-74
Functional organization of primary visual cortex in the mink (Mustela vison), and a comparison with the cat. LeVay S, McConnell SK, Luskin MB. J Comp Neurol. 1987; 257 (3): 422-41
Anatomical organization of the visual system of the mink, Mustela vison. McConnell SK, LeVay S. J Comp Neurol. 1986; 250 (1): 109-32
Migration and differentiation of cerebral cortical neurons after transplantation into the brains of ferrets. McConnell SK, Science. 1985; 229 (4719): 1268-71
Segregation of on- and off-center afferents in mink visual cortex. McConnell SK, LeVay S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984; 81 (5): 1590-3
ON and OFF layers in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the mink. LeVay S, McConnell SK. Nature. 1982; 300 (5890): 350-1