Our collaborations and partnerships over the years:
Our laboratory excels in exploring the nervous system through a multi-tiered approach, offering insights from the molecular level to behavior. Each level of investigation is supported by specialized methodologies, allowing us to dissect the complexity of brain function and dysfunction in health and disease. At the molecular level, we focus on understanding the biochemical changes and molecular interactions that underpin neural processes. Using techniques like DIGE proteomics, in vivo voltammetry and microdialysis we identify protein changes, neurotransmitter dynamics, and other molecular events that are critical to brain function and disease progression.
At the cellular level, we investigate the activity, gene expression, and physiology of individual neurons. Techniques like multielectrode recordings and patch clamp allow us to monitor electrical properties, while single-cell transcriptomics enables the study of gene expression within individual cells. This combination provides a detailed understanding of how single cells function and respond to different conditions, allowing us to study cellular behavior in both healthy and diseased brain states.
At the developmental level, we study how neural circuits and immune responses evolve over time and under different conditions. The Luminex MAGPIX cytokine assay allows for the multiplexed measurement of cytokines and other immune markers, providing insight into neuro-immune interactions that influence brain development and disease. Together with techniques like microdialysis we can analyze the biochemical environment of the brain, monitoring changes in neurotransmitter and cytokine levels to understand how these factors shape neural development.
At the behavioral level, we explore how alterations in brain function manifest as changes in behavior. Using advanced tools like the NOLDUS system and DeepLabCut, we can precisely track and analyze a wide range of behaviors in freely moving animals. These methods provide critical insight into how molecular and cellular changes translate into behavior, helping us understand the broader implications of brain function in both normal and pathological conditions. By correlating neural activity with behavior, we aim to unravel the mechanisms underlying various neurological and psychiatric disorders, thereby offering potential pathways for therapeutic intervention.