Research Projects
General Overview
Our work focuses on how external threats influence neuroimmune function and overall brain health using rodent models. A long term goal of our work is to better understand developmental differences in, and long lasting consequences of, early life stress and alcohol exposure. We have 3 ongoing projects focused on (i) interactions between glococorticoids and inflammation; (ii) persistent changes in neuroimmune function after adolescent alcohol exposure, including glial-neuronal interactions; and (iii) neurovascular effects of chronic alcohol and its implications for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Our approach utilizes a combination of molecular procedures (RT-PCR, RNASeq), behavioral pharmacology, in vivo microdialysis, immunofluorescence, and vascular mapping techniques to achieve these goals.
Alcohol - Neuroimmune Interactions
Alcohol misuse produces tell-tale signs of CNS inflammation. One of our main projects focuses on fluctuations in neuroimmune genes across cycles of intoxication and withdrawal. Interestingly, adolescents appear to be far less sensitive to the neuroimmune consequences of alcohol, yet binge-like alcohol exposure during adolescence produces long-lasting changes in neuroimmune function that persist into adulthood. Ongoing projects are exploring cellular and functional consequences of alcohol in early development, glial involvement in alcohol tolerance, and glucocorticoid-mediated changes in alcohol consumption.
Neurobiology of acute and chronic stress
Historically, the lab has focused on neuroendocrine and neuroimmune consequences of psychological stress challenges, with the over-arching goal of understanding how stress influences the development of neuropsychiatric conditions. Ongoing studies are exploring age-specific, early developmental vulnerabilities to the long-term impact of stress exposure, as well as circumstances and mechanisms that contribute to stress adaptation. We are particularly interested in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis due to its involvement in stress processes and as a key regulator of inflammation.
Natural aging and overall brain health
Late aging is associated with heightened inflammation in the CNS and elsewhere in the body. One of our projects examines how lifelong alcohol consumption influences aging-related neuroinflammation, accumulation of amyloid-beta protein, and vascular dysfunction (Blood-Brain Barrier disruption, vascular remodeling). These studies include both wild type rats and the Transgenic Fischer-344-Alzheimer's Disease (Tg-F344-AD) model to better understand how alcohol consumption influences vulnerability to both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's Disease, respectively.