Our Research

Sex differences, neurodevelopment, microglia, mitochondria, hormones

Our lab studies neuro-immune interactions and neuroimmunometabolism in brain development, with a focus on understanding the establishment of sex differences in neural function. We are interested in how sex hormones and mitochondrial inheritance shape the development of circuits in the brain. We hope to understand how these processes influence social behavior and communication.

We have found the perinatal immune activation induces male-specific alterations in social behavior and function of microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain. We have also found that manipulating sex hormones impacts the behavior of microglia and their mitochondria, organelles important not only as the primary energy producer of the cell, but as a key hub in cellular signaling. Our research program combines genetics, anatomy, imaging, proteomics, and behavior in mice as well as imaging and histological studies in human populations.

 

Sex-specific behavioral and neuro-immunometabolic responses to perinatal immune challenges

A major research direction in the lab is to study how perinatal immune challenges and developmental stressors impact offspring in sex-specific manners. Our research team seeks to answer questions such as:

  • Does early life stress impact male and female social behavior differently?

  • How does microglial function/synapse refinement change in response to perinatal immune challenge?

  • Does altered microglial mitochondrial function in response to perinatal immune challenge impact circuit development or social behavior?

 

Maternal Infections

Maternal infection during pregnancy increases the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders in offspring. Our research team seeks to answer questions such as:

  • Does the type of maternal infection influence offspring immune development?

  • What is the impact of maternal immune activation on offspring neurodevelopment and behavior?

  • Does fetal sex impact the maternal:fetal interface?

 

Perinatal critical periods and gonadal steroids

Gonadal steroids define sexual differentiation of the brain during a perinatal critical period of brain development. Our research team seeks to answer questions such as:

  • Which cell types are impacted by the gonadal steroid surge?

  • Through which receptors do gonadal steroids impact microglial and mitochondrial development and function?

  • Can manipulating the perinatal steroid surge impact behavior and brain development?

 

Cell-specific mitochondrial and cellular signaling manipulations

We are particularly curious about the causative directionality of cell-specific signaling alterations, mitochondrial function, brain development, and establishment of social behavior. Our research team uses transgenic mouse models to :

  • Manipulate mitochondrial or cellular signaling molecule genes within specific cell types (ie. astrocytes and microglia) at specific developmental timepoints and assess the sex-specific impacts on brain development, establishment of social behaviors, and communication between developing cells.