Overview

Our lab investigates how astrocytes act as contextual regulators of neural circuits. We ask how physiological state and experience—including acute and early-life stress—reconfigure astrocyte signalling, structure, and metabolism, and how these adaptations alter circuit activity, brain states, and behaviour.

Across stress-responsive circuits, we study how astrocytes sense glucocorticoids, neuromodulators, metabolic signals, and local neuronal activity. This framework links our work on anxiety and threat, memory and behavioural adaptation, astrocyte bioenergetics, and hypothalamic control of metabolism.

We combine two-photon microscopy, electrophysiology, cellular and in vivo imaging, behavioural assays, and molecular and genetic approaches. Collaborations at the CRCHUM, Université de Montréal, and beyond help us develop and apply new tools for measuring astrocyte function in behaving animals.

Questions

How does stress affect astrocytes and what are the consequences for glial and neural function?

What are the central signalling cascades initiated after stress? This includes how stress is sensed by astrocytes, cell-specific alterations, and downstream consequences.

How do astrocytes contribute to stress-induced memory impairments?

We study the role for astrocytes in memory formation, and how this can malfunction after stress? We use behavioural assays to determine the effects of stress on memory combined with the use of genetic tools to influence glial and neuronal function.

Do glucocorticoids tune astrocyte function?

We are investigating how glucocorticoids alter astrocyte function and the consequences on synaptic function and behaviour.

What is the influence of astrocytes on metabolism and feeding?

Using metabolic phenotyping, behavioural assays, and genetic manipulations we study how astrocytes in hypothalamic brain regions regulate metabolic function.

Journal Club

See what we are reading in our monthly journal club