Research Interests

Our research focuses on (i) functional analysis of neuroglial networks in vivo, especially in the context of perception of sensory stimuli as well as sleep-dependent learning and memory formation; (ii) interactions between the nervous and the immune systems of the brain; (iii) understanding the rules governing the integration of adult‐born neurons in the preexisting neural networks as well (iv) neural network maturation, aging and neurodegeneration (in particular, Alzheimer’s disease). To address these objectives, we use in vivo two-photon microscopy/calcium imaging, combined with electrophysiological, behavioral, RNA sequencing and immunocytochemical techniques. Our preclinical studies focus on mechanisms underlying network dysfunction in genetic epilepsies and amyloidosis-induced neuroinflammation and the resulting therapeutic implications.

 

Techniques

Cellular activity is often associated with an increase in intracellular calcium concentration. We use this property of neuronal and glial cells to monitor their function by means of in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. In combination with state-of-the-art electrophysiological, optical and molecular biological techniques (multi-color two-photon microscopy, novel genetically-encoded calcium indicators, cell-attached and whole-cell patch clamp recordings, single-cell RNA sequencing) this approach allows studying functions of multi-cellular networks at single cell or even subcellular resolution.