Research Overview
My laboratory studies synaptic modulation in the hippocampus and cortex of the mammalian brain. Our recent work has focused on the physiologic roles of endogenous cannabinoids and nerve growth factors in various forms of synaptic plasticity that are important for learning and memory. These systems are currently major targets for the development of novel therapeutics for neurologic and neurodegenerative disease.
Another area of interest focuses on the neuronal and synaptic deficits in autism spectrum disorders. In particular, our work is currently focused on Angelman syndrome, Chromosome 15q duplication syndrome, and related neurodevelopmental disorders. These studies use inducible pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are derived from human somatic cells and then reprogrammed to pluripotency and differentiated into neurons. This project involves patch clamp recordings, multi-electrode arrays, and calcium imaging, as well as morphological and immunocytochemical analysis of stem cell-derived neurons grown in culture. In collaboration with Dr. Stormy Chamberlain, we are interested in comparing the functional and structural properties of synapses and neuronal circuits from patients with Dup15q autism or Angelman syndrome compared to unaffected controls.
