Psychiatry Neuroscience Research
Research on the fundamental processes controlling brain function at the molecular, genetic, and cellular levels focuses on abnormalities in various neuropsychiatric disorders. Studies investigate how alterations in genes, gene expression, signal transduction pathways, and neuroplasticity contribute to mental illness including schizophrenia, autism, depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Other research investigates brain circuit-specific pathways in the regulation of complex behavior including learning and memory, mood, and motivation.
The studies make prominent use of transgenic mouse models, viral mediated gene transfer, DNA/RNA profiling, protein biochemistry, and optogenetics. Defining aspects of the Division's research feature the integration of molecular-, cellular-, and systems-level investigation with the availability of sophisticated animal models of specific disorders.
Visit the following pages for more information about current projects: