My laboratory is working to identify common molecular links between metabolic disorders (diabetes and atherosclerosis) and stroke, anxiety and Alzheimer’s disease in order to develop common therapies to restore healthy brain function. The techniques used in the laboratory include molecular biology, cell culture, in vitro (brain slice) and in vivo electrophysiological recording and pharmacological intervention. The animal models used include several cell-type specific transgenic or knockout mice, middle cerebral artery occlusion and photothrombosis for stroke studies, bone marrow transplantation for atherosclerosis.

 More recently, we have also tied metabolic syndromes to other neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and autism. We have identified new genetic models of these disorders. Using AAV viral vectors and optogenetic methods together with patch-clamp recording of acute brain slices, we are investigating how neural circuits involved in these two disorders are affected in our genetic knockout mouse models. Pharmacological intervention using these preclinical mouse models is being evaluated by electrophysiology, behaviour studies and biochemical analysis of cellular signalling.