Research group Translational neuroscience

Aims

1. We aim to understand the interaction between serotonin and dopamine in drug addiction, specifically the motives to use drugs
2. We aim to test the hypothesis that memory serves as a mechanism underlying the comorbidity between cocaine addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder
3. We aim to elucidate how maternal serotonergic genotype affects offspring development in the context of stress-related and neurodevelopment disorders
4. We aim to determine the role of the gut-brain axis in the individual differences in response to serotonergic antidepressant drugs
5. We aim to improve animal housing and testing and the monitoring of their well-being
6. We study the brain mechanisms underlying environmental sensitivity / sensory processing sensitivity

Achievements

• Behavioral traits and resting-state brain connectivity

  We found that baseline behavioral traits and resting-state brain connectivity moderates response to specific pharmacotherapies reducing alcohol seeking and taking.

• Antibioticum minocycline interferes with memories

  We found that the antibioticum minocycline interferes with the reconsolidating of cocaine-induced memories and to a lesser extent with trauma-induced memories.

• Serotonergic maternal genotype affects offspring

  We found that serotonergic maternal genotype affects offspring brain and behavioural development through altered function of the placenta and changes in maternal care.

• Human to rat fecal transfer

  We have a human to rat fecal microbiota transfer pipeline working.

• Social Ratpad

  We have developed social Ratpad, a homecage system for cognitive testing in rats. We are developing a large enriched homecage for rats allowing automated welfare monitoring. We are also developing a tool to measure the vocalizations of rodents in their homecage to assess their wellbeing.