Derek van der Kooy

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Molecular genetics

Latest papers

Precision ventral extraction of implanted mouse brains: A protocol.
STAR protocols · 2026 · senior author
Tuning hydrogel affinity to control the release of antibodies.
Biomaterials · 2026
Toward biomimetic optogenetics: Drug-free activation of acute opiate reward.
iScience · 2025 · senior author

All 117 publications

Latest funding

Peptide Synthesizer & Cell Culture
NSERC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$89,043
The bioengineered delivery of biomolecules to activate endogenous retinal stem cells in the adult eye to restore vision in the blind.
SSHRC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$250,000
Mutational Analyses of Learning and Memory
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$252,000

All 27 grants and awards

117 publications.

01

Precision ventral extraction of implanted mouse brains: A protocol.

El-Fayomi L, Bergamini M, van der Kooy D

STAR protocols2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104677 PMID: 42418328

02

Tuning hydrogel affinity to control the release of antibodies.

Isaacs-Bernal D, Coles B, Huo L, Bahsoun NE, Wang S, van der Kooy D, Shoichet MS

Biomaterials2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.123996 PMID: 41534265

03

Toward biomimetic optogenetics: Drug-free activation of acute opiate reward.

El-Fayomi L, Steenland H, Lovejoy S, Bergamini M, van der Kooy D

iScience2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113465 PMID: 41031373

04

Pancreatic stem cells originate during the pancreatic progenitor developmental stage.

Jacques K, Coles BLK, van der Kooy D

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology2025Senior author

DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1521411 PMID: 40040790

05

Rewarding Effects of the Hallucinogen 4-AcO-DMT Administration and Withdrawal in Rats: A Challenge to the Opponent-Process Theory.

Vargas-Perez H, Minauro-Sanmiguel F, Ting-A-Kee R, Grieder TE, Méndez-Díaz M, Prospéro-García O, van der Kooy D

Neuroscience letters2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137597 PMID: 38110146

06

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Neural Precursor Cell (NPC) Transplantation Synergistically Promote Anatomical and Functional Recovery in a Hypoxic-Ischemic Mouse Model.

Rumajogee P, Altamentova S, Li J, Puvanenthirarajah N, Wang J, Asgarihafshejani A, Van Der Kooy D, Fehlings MG

International journal of molecular sciences2024

DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179403 PMID: 39273353

07

Neural crest precursors from the skin are the primary source of directly reprogrammed neurons.

Belair-Hickey JJ, Fahmy A, Zhang W, Sajid RS, Coles BLK, Salter MW, van der Kooy D

Stem cell reports2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.10.003 PMID: 39486406

08

Connexin-36-positive gap junctions in ventral tegmental area GABA neurons sustain opiate dependence.

Maal-Bared G, Yee M, Harding EK, Ghebreselassie M, Bergamini M, Choy R, Kim E, Di Vito S, Patel M, Amirzadeh M, Grieder TE, Coles BL, Nagy JI, Bonin RP, Steenland HW, van der Kooy D

The European journal of neuroscience2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16366 PMID: 38679044

09

Small-Molecule-Directed Endogenous Regeneration of Visual Function in a Mammalian Retinal Degeneration Model.

Mokady D, Charish J, Barretto-Burns P, Grisé KN, Coles BLK, Raab S, Ortin-Martinez A, Müller A, Fasching B, Jain P, Drukker M, van der Kooy D, Steger M

International journal of molecular sciences2024

DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031521 PMID: 38338800

10

Fate Specification of GFAP-Negative Primitive Neural Stem Cells and Their Progeny at Clonal Resolution.

Yammine SZ, Burns I, Gosio J, Peluso A, Merritt DM, Innes B, Coles BLK, Yan WR, Bader GD, Morshead CM, van der Kooy D

Stem cells and development2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1089/scd.2023.0038 PMID: 37551982

Peptide Synthesizer & Cell Culture

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Shoichet, Molly

$89,043

The bioengineered delivery of biomolecules to activate endogenous retinal stem cells in the adult eye to restore vision in the blind.

Principal investigatorSSHRC2020New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration

Principal investigators: van der Kooy, Derek

$250,000

Mutational Analyses of Learning and Memory

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: van der Kooy, Derek

$252,000

Key Characterization and Synthesis Tools for Defined Polymeric Hydrogels to Guide Cell Fate

Co-investigatorNSERC2016Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Shoichet, Molly

$140,618

Cell lineage and neural development

Nominated PICIHR2015Foundation Grant

Principal investigators: van der Kooy, Derek J

Keywords: Asymmetric Cell Division; Brain Development; Cell Reprogramming; Neural Stem Cells; Neurobiology Of Motivation; Pancreatic Stem Cells; Retinal Stem Cells

$3,531,284

Mutational Analyses of Learning and Memory

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: vanderKooy, Derek

$285,000

Canadian Stroke Network (2006 Renewal Competition)

Co-investigatorNSERC2013Networks of Centres of Excellence

Principal investigators: Hakim, Antoine

$500,000

NSERC CREATE in Manufacturing, Materials and Mimetics (M3)

Co-investigatorNSERC2013Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: Shoichet, Molly

$1,650,000

Inducing the activation of adult retinal stem cells for the treatment of retinal disease

SupervisorCIHR2012Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Principal investigators: Nissar, Aliyah

Keywords: Cell Activation; Cell Transplantation; Regeneration; Retinal Stem Cells

$105,000

Cell Linage & Brain Development

Nominated PICIHR2012Operating Grant

Principal investigators: van der Kooy, Derek J

Keywords: Asymmetric Division; Developmental Disorders Of The Nervous System; Embryonic Stem Cells; Neural Stem Cells; Regionalization Of The Nervous System; Stem Cells

$812,634

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Department of Molecular Genetics
Surgery
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
Division of Anatomy
Department of Biochemistry
Other

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Andras Nagy

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

6 shared papers, latest 2020

Rod Bremner

Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

2 shared papers, latest 2011

Ulrich Tepass

Cell and Systems Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2009

Liliana Attisano

Department of Biochemistry

1 shared papers, latest 2006

Brian Ciruna

Developmental and Stem Cell Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2009

Susan George

Pharmacology and Toxicology

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Bernard Le Foll

Department of Family and Community Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Cindi Morshead

Division of Anatomy

1 shared papers, latest 2005

Mei Zhen

Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute

1 shared papers, latest 2009

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their SSHRC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Molecular genetics Dear Professor van der Kooy, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Precision ventral extraction of implanted mouse brains: A protocol." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your SSHRC-funded project "The bioengineered delivery of biomolecules to activate endogenous retinal stem cells in the adult eye to restore vision in the blind." (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]

Derek van der Kooy

Research

Latest papers

Latest funding

Precision ventral extraction of implanted mouse brains: A protocol.

Tuning hydrogel affinity to control the release of antibodies.

Toward biomimetic optogenetics: Drug-free activation of acute opiate reward.

Pancreatic stem cells originate during the pancreatic progenitor developmental stage.

Rewarding Effects of the Hallucinogen 4-AcO-DMT Administration and Withdrawal in Rats: A Challenge to the Opponent-Process Theory.

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and Neural Precursor Cell (NPC) Transplantation Synergistically Promote Anatomical and Functional Recovery in a Hypoxic-Ischemic Mouse Model.

Neural crest precursors from the skin are the primary source of directly reprogrammed neurons.

Connexin-36-positive gap junctions in ventral tegmental area GABA neurons sustain opiate dependence.

Small-Molecule-Directed Endogenous Regeneration of Visual Function in a Mammalian Retinal Degeneration Model.

Fate Specification of GFAP-Negative Primitive Neural Stem Cells and Their Progeny at Clonal Resolution.

Peptide Synthesizer & Cell Culture

The bioengineered delivery of biomolecules to activate endogenous retinal stem cells in the adult eye to restore vision in the blind.

Mutational Analyses of Learning and Memory

Key Characterization and Synthesis Tools for Defined Polymeric Hydrogels to Guide Cell Fate

Cell lineage and neural development

Mutational Analyses of Learning and Memory

Canadian Stroke Network (2006 Renewal Competition)

NSERC CREATE in Manufacturing, Materials and Mimetics (M3)

Inducing the activation of adult retinal stem cells for the treatment of retinal disease

Cell Linage & Brain Development

Frequent collaborators

Andras Nagy

Laura Donaldson

Janet Rossant

Rod Bremner

Ulrich Tepass

Liliana Attisano

Brian Ciruna

Susan George

Bernard Le Foll

Mahla Poudineh

Cindi Morshead

Jim Hu

Mei Zhen