Assistant Professor

I am a neuroscientist at the University of Prince Edward Island. My main research focus is hippocampal neurogenesis. Neurogenesis describes the process of birth, maturation and integration of neurons. It takes place in rodents and humans from development to old age. Neurons born during adulthood are more plastic and morphologically more complex than developmentally-born neurons. What can adult-born neurons do that developmentally-born dentate neurons are not able to do? What are their special features that make them unique? Are they connected differently in the network? And how is their production regulated? We know that certain environmental stimuli such as running can induce the formation of new neurons, whereas stress and ageing decrease their number. My goal is to clarify the impact of neurogenesis on behaviour and identify mechanisms how neurogenesis can be manipulated to create new treatments for depression and other neurological disorders.