My research is focused on understanding the processes underlying midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuronal development using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The goal of this study is to improve the yield of A9 mDA neuronal subtype that is highly susceptible to degeneration in Parkinson’s (PD) patients. An improved understanding of mDA subtype development has wide implications not only for cell replacement therapies in PD, but also for the study of other mDA-associated neurological disorders such as addiction.