The dynamics and logic of neuroglial interactions in neurodegenerative pathologies
The overall goal of our laboratory is to uncover rules that govern the complex interactions between all brain cell types in their unperturbed in vivo microenvironment and to determine how these dynamic cell-cell interactions are disrupted in a variety of disease states. We utilize high-resolution cellular imaging in vivo and fixed tissues of single cells and small clusters of interacting cells combined with novel optical sensors of cellular physiology, optogenetics, chemogenetics, genome editing techniques and methods that we develop for improving the capacity to visualize and manipulate individual cells in their native environment. Our approach tends to be exploratory and hypothesis generating and thus, our results can take us in different directions such that projects in the lab can have a neuronal, glial or vascular focus. Finally, discoveries derived from these investigative strategies inspire our translational neuroscience program aimed at neurodegenerative conditions.
Alzheimer Disease; Astrocytes; Axons; Blood-Brain Barrier; Capillaries; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Microscopy; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Neuronal Plasticity; Regional Blood Flow; Microglia; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Pericytes