Stem cell and Developmental neurobiology. Pierre Vanderhaeghen Lab. FROM STEM CELLS TO NEURAL CIRCUITS : DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN CEREBRAL CORTEX. The cerebral cortex is arguably the most complex and important structure in our brain, and contributes in an essential way to who we are, as a species and as individuals. The major research goal in our laboratory is to unravel some of the key mechanisms controlling the develop...