Research
Understanding the molecular and circuit-specific mechanisms underlying depression and addiction through cutting-edge neuroscience approaches.
Depression Circuits
Our lab investigates how chronic stress leads to depression by studying the neural circuits connecting the prefrontal cortex to the nucleus accumbens. We discovered that Shisa6, a gene that regulates AMPA receptor function, is specifically altered in D1-type medium spiny neurons of susceptible individuals.
Addiction Mechanisms
We study how drugs of abuse, particularly cocaine, alter the epigenetic landscape of reward circuits. Our work on SIRT1, a histone deacetylase, revealed its essential role in cocaine and morphine action in the nucleus accumbens.
Synaptic Tools Development
We are developing novel technologies to manipulate and map synaptic connections with unprecedented precision. Our "synapse surgery" tools allow for circuit-specific synapse ablation and modification.
Translational Approaches
To bridge preclinical findings to human disease, we utilize iPSC-derived brain organoids from MDD patients. Collaborations with the Gage lab (Salk) and NIMH provide access to unique patient-derived cell lines.
Our Toolkit
We have established 19 unique transgenic mouse lines and employ state-of-the-art techniques for circuit-specific interrogation.