Neuroscience lab at the CRCHUM, Université de Montréal
Investigating the link between stress, astrocyte metabolism, and neuronal plasticity
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
November 2024 - Ciaran visited Canadian Parliament as part of CAN Hill Day in Ottawa
October 2024 - The lab received funding from the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation to further our work on astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus
September 2024 - New preprint from our lab on a project led by Lewis on lateral hypothalamic astrocytes and their regulation of orexin neuron activity in stress - see publications
August 2024 - Ossama was awarded a ‘Bourse de Merite’ from the Faculty of Medicine, U Montréal
May 2024 - Juliette, Mathias, Manon, Ossama, and Lewis present their work at CAN in Vancouver
May 2024 - Manon was awarded a Postdoctoral fellowship from the Fondation CHUM
April 2024 - Manon and Lewis win best oral and poster presentations at the 6th neuroscience dept. research day
April 2024 - Lewis was awarded an FRQS PhD fellowship
November 2023 - Lewis, Mathias, and Ossama present their work at SfN in Washington DC
November 2023 - Ciaran visited the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa to advocate for enhanced research funding in Canada
October 2023 - Spotlight on the ongoing work in our lab in Université de Montréal news (links in English and French)
October 2023 - Perspective article “A Conceptual Framework for Astrocyte Function” published in Nature Neuroscience (see publications)
April 2023 - Juliette Vaugeois was awarded CIHR Master’s fellowship
December 2022 - The lab’s first manuscript investigating the role of astrocytes in mediating the effects of early-life stress on amygdala-dependent behaviour is now online (see publications page)
December 2022 - Lewis Depaauw-Holt was awarded a prestigious Leadership fellowship from the Faculty of Medicine, U Montréal.