S E M I N A R & V I S I T I N G S P E A K E R S E R I E S
D AT E
Friday, May 19th, 2017
12:00 Noon
LO C AT I O N
Theatre C
Associate Professor
Department of Neurology, Mayo Medical
School, Mayo Clinic
Topic: Microglia-neuron communication in diseased brain
(to be followed by a TRAINEE LUNCH in room SR415 **Please encourage all your neuroscience trainees to attend!)
Microglia are the principal immune response cells in the central nervous system. Resting microglia constantly survey the microenvironment in the normal brain. Upon brain dysfunction, microglia are activated and exert detrimental or beneficial effects on the surrounding neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms for microglial activation and function in brain diseases are still controversial. The long-term goal of my lab is to understand microglia-neuron communication in the brain. We are interested in fundamental questions on: (1) How microglia sense neuronal activities? (2) How microglia regulate neuronal and synaptic function? (3) What are the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of microglia activation in brain diseases? To address these questions, we use the combination of two photon deep-brain imaging, electrophysiology, mouse genetics to dissect the role of microglia in neuronal circuits and in brain disorders. These results provide a novel insight on microglial function in brain emostasis and suggest microglia as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of brain diseases such as epilepsy, pain and stroke.
For more information contact:
Eftekhar Eftekharpour
Coordinator – MNN Seminar & Visiting Speaker Series
789-3214 eftekhar.eftekharpour@umanitoba.ca
Sponsored by:
Manitoba Neuroscience Network | Health Sciences Centre | University of Manitoba | St. Boniface Research Centre