PHYSIOpathoLOGY OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Research conducted by the Pathophysiology of Psychiatric Disorders team aims to answer two major questions : the Etiology of Depression, and the function of Dopamine in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Our fundamental and preclinical studies have identified new mechanisms contributing to individual vulnerability or resistance (resiliency) to depression and underlying the action of antidepressants. Ongoing projects aim to further elucidate the role of these novel systems in plasticity-related processes within the neural circuitry in normal and pathological conditions. We will also investigate whether certain of these systems constitute valid biomarkers in humans, to assess the efficacy of antidepressant therapies, and we are currently developing selective approaches to manipulate their activity in order to improve antidepressant efficacy.

Research topics
– Neural networks in vulnerability and resiliance to depression
Theme 2: Dopamine hypothesis and pathophysiology of schizophrenia
– Dopamine transporter (DAT) interactome and proteome
characterizing DA dynamics in cortical areas
– Functional diversity of dopaminoceptive Medium Spiny Neurons
Functional diversity of dopaminoceptive Medium Spiny Neurons