Neurons throughout our brain communicate with each other through synapses. Our research focuses on understanding how synapses are organized dynamically to enable synaptic transmission and plasticity, a remarkable feature that underlies the ability of our brain to adapt to, and learn from, a changing environment and our experiences. We are particularly interested in the glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems, both essential in balancing excitatory and inhibitory activity and crucial for learning, memorizing (and forgetting), as well as for regulating a wide array of brain functions and behaviors. Using genetic, proteomic, molecular, electrophysiological, imaging and behavioral techniques we aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms that govern synapse development, organization and plasticity, as well as the mechanisms that lead to some CNS pathologies with an origin in the synapse.

Key Research Areas:

Synapse organization, synaptic plasticity, molecular neuroscience, AMPA receptor, endocannabinoid system, epilepsy