Dr. D.L.C. (Debbie) van den Berg

In my lab, we study cortical brain development, using state-of-the-art human neural model systems, including cortical brain organoids and adherent neural networks. The cortex is generated from a pool of progenitor cells that will give rise to the neuronal and glial lineages of the adult brain. Its projection neurons are organised in six distinguishable layers, which are formed in an inside-out manner such that earlier born neurons occupy deeper layers than late-born neurons.

Accurate formation of neuronal circuits depends on the coordination of multiple processes, including progenitor pool amplification, neuronal differentiation and subtype specification. Developmental disturbance of these events affects shaping of the neuronal network and has been linked to a variety of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability.

Our research aims to unravel how aberrant transcription elongation impacts neural development and homeostasis, using a combination of proteomics, (single cell) genomics, live imaging, and electrophysiological readouts. We model both genetic and environmental perturbations, in order to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms and biological pathways that contribute to cognitive impairment and other neurological defects.

Cryosection of cortical brain organoid showing multiple progenitor zones (left). Adherent cortical neuronal network grown on multi-electrode array (middle). Cortical brain organoid single cell RNA-sequencing UMAP (right).

Contact information

Name: Debbie van der Berg
Telephone: +31-107032978
E-mail: d.vandenberg@erasmusmc.nl

Visiting address
Dept. of Developmental Biology
Erasmus MC - Faculty building, room Ee-1065a
Wytemaweg 80
3015CN Rotterdam
The Netherlands

Mail address
Dept. of Developmental Biology
Erasmus MC
Faculty building, room Ee-1065a
PO Box 2040
3000 CA Rotterdam
The Netherlands 

1. van Sluis, M., Q. Yu, M. van der Woude, C. Gonzalo-Hansen, S.C. Dealy, R.C. Janssens, H.B. Somsen, A.R. Ramadhin, D.H.W. Dekkers, H.L. Wienecke, J. Demmers, A. Raams, C. Davo-Martinez, D.A. Llerena Schiffmacher, M. van Toorn, D. Hackes, K.L. Thijssen, D. Zhou, J.G. Lammers, A. Pines, W. Vermeulen, J. Pothof, J.A.A. Demmers, D.L.C. van den Berg, H. Lans, and J.A. Marteijn, Transcription-coupled DNA-protein crosslink repair by CSB and CRL4(CSA)-mediated degradation. Nat Cell Biol, 2024. 26(5): p. 770-783  10.1038/s41556-024-01394-y.

2. Somsen, H.B., K.N. Eigenhuis, A.L. Kuijpers-Korporaal, M. Pelicano de Almeida, R. Montoro Ferrer, K. Kats, M.R. Dekker, T. Zuidweg, Z. Azmani, M.C.G.N. van den Hout, W.F.J. van IJcken, D. Huylebroeck, M. Fornerod, R.A. Poot, and D.L.C. van den Berg#, The Integrator complex prevents premature neuronal differentiation through global control of transcription elongation. bioRxiv, 2024: p. 2024.11.26.625369  10.1101/2024.11.26.625369.

3. Eigenhuis, K.N., H.B. Somsen, M. van der Kroeg, H. Smeenk, A.L. Korporaal, S.A. Kushner, F.M.S. de Vrij, and D.L.C. van den Berg#, A simplified protocol for the generation of cortical brain organoids. Front Cell Neurosci, 2023. 17: p. 1114420  10.3389/fncel.2023.1114420.

4. van den Berg, D.L.C., J.I. Heng, A. Sessa, and C. Dias, Editorial: Transcription and chromatin regulators in neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Neurosci, 2022. 16: p. 1023580  10.3389/fnins.2022.1023580.

5. Eigenhuis, K.N., H.B. Somsen, and D.L.C. van den Berg#, Transcription Pause and Escape in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Neurosci, 2022. 16: p. 846272  10.3389/fnins.2022.846272.

6. Blomfield, I.M., B. Rocamonde, M.D.M. Masdeu, E. Mulugeta, S. Vaga, D.L.C. van den Berg, E. Huillard, F. Guillemot, and N. Urban, Id4 promotes the elimination of the pro-activation factor Ascl1 to maintain quiescence of adult hippocampal stem cells. Elife, 2019. 8 10.7554/eLife.48561.

7. van den Berg, D.L.C.#, R. Azzarelli, K. Oishi, B. Martynoga, N. Urban, D.H. Dekkers, J.A. Demmers, and F. Guillemot, Nipbl Interacts with Zfp609 and the Integrator Complex to Regulate Cortical Neuron Migration. Neuron, 2017. 93(2): p. 348-361  10.1016/j.neuron.2016.11.047.

8. Oegema, R., D. Baillat, R. Schot, L.M. van Unen, A. Brooks, S.K. Kia, A.J.M. Hoogeboom, Z. Xia, W. Li, M. Cesaroni, M.H. Lequin, M. van Slegtenhorst, W.B. Dobyns, I.F.M. de Coo, D. van den Berg, F.W. Verheijen, A. Kremer, P.J. van der Spek, D. Heijsman, E.J. Wagner, M. Fornerod, and G.M.S. Mancini, Correction: Human mutations in integrator complex subunits link transcriptome integrity to brain development. PLOS Genetics, 2017. 13(8): p. e1006923  10.1371/journal.pgen.1006923.

9. Urban, N., D.L.C. van den Berg, A. Forget, J. Andersen, J.A. Demmers, C. Hunt, O. Ayrault, and F. Guillemot, Return to quiescence of mouse neural stem cells by degradation of a proactivation protein. Science, 2016. 353(6296): p. 292-5  10.1126/science.aaf4802.

10. Mateo, J.L., D.L.C. van den Berg, M. Haeussler, D. Drechsel, Z.B. Gaber, D.S. Castro, P. Robson, G.E. Crawford, P. Flicek, L. Ettwiller, J. Wittbrodt, F. Guillemot, and B. Martynoga, Characterization of the neural stem cell gene regulatory network identifies OLIG2 as a multifunctional regulator of self-renewal. Genome Res, 2015. 25(1): p. 41-56  10.1101/gr.173435.114.

11. Engelen, E., J.H. Brandsma, M.J. Moen, L. Signorile, D.H. Dekkers, J. Demmers, C.E. Kockx, Z. Ozgur, I.W.F. van, D.L.C. van den Berg#, and R.A. Poot, Proteins that bind regulatory regions identified by histone modification chromatin immunoprecipitations and mass spectrometry. Nat Commun, 2015. 6: p. 7155  10.1038/ncomms8155.

Debbie van den Berg, group leader
Marieke Alzeer, PhD student
Anne Korporaal, research technician

Room Ee-1067