Neuroscience lab at the CRCHUM, Université de Montréal
Investigating the links between stress, astrocytes, neural plasticity, and behaviour
What we do
We investigate the various roles for astrocytes in regulation neural function. Our lab is interested in stress-induced changes in brain function, in particular how astrocytic support of synaptic metabolism is affected by stress. The goal of the lab is to further understand how stress alters astrocyte structure and function, and how this influences neuronal activity which in turn underlies behaviour.
We use a combination of behavioural assays, electrophysiology, and in vivo imaging in animal models to understand how astrocytes influence behavioural states.
See our Research page for more.
What we are reading
Most recent papers discussed lab journal club
Lab news
April 2025
Lewis received a travel award to attend CAN in Toronto!
Article published in Biological Psychiatry “Astrocytic CREB: The Hidden Driver of Stress Susceptibility” by Mathias and Ciaran. See publications page
Marie-Jo was accepted in to the U Montréal Neuroscience PhD program and will continue her research with us!
Lab visit from Jun Nagai (Riken, Japan)
March 2025
Camila was awarded an NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award and will continue in the lab!
We published four chapters in the book Astrocytes: Methods in Molecular Biology see publications.
Congrats to Lewis who received a travel award to attend EuroGLIA in Marseille this July!
Congrats to Ossama and Marie-Jo who received travel awards (from IBRO and U Aix-Marseille) to attend the Canadian Association of Neuroscience annual meeting in Toronto this May!
February 2025
We published the Version of Record of our manuscript “Early-life stress induces persistent astrocyte dysfunction associated with fear generalisation” in eLife. First authors - Mathias, Lewis, and Ife.
Ciaran was named researcher of the month by SENSUM (Stratégy en Neurosciences et Santé Mentale de l’Université de Montréal)
January 2025
Marie-Josette de Medeiros joins the lab for a 5 month internship from France, funded by Université d’Aix-Marseille
Camila Carbarcas joins for 12 week internship in the U Montréal neuroscience program.