Plays an important role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell migration. May have a role in glial cell growth and differentiation during development, gliosis during repair and regeneration of brain tissue after damage, differentiation and survival of neuronal cells, and growth stimulation of glial tumors. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:16597617, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8663044}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000102678 (FGF9, fibroblast growth factor 9).