Developmental neurobiology
Cell physiology, Neurobehavior, Postnatal development
Research aim
It is our goal to increase fundamental knowledge of maturing synaptic connections that moderate cerebellar interactions with cerebral networks. We contribute to improving the bed-to-bench translation of brain therapies for adverse early life events.
About us
From foetal stages the cerebellum and cerebrum are connected and proper functioning of both structures and connections is critical for normal behavior and well-being. Aberrant cerebello-cerebral connections results in impaired motor, sensory, social, emotional and/or executive behavior.
Using electrophysiological recordings with genetically-encoded optogenetic and chemogenetic tools and post-hoc anatomical reconstructions we investigate the local and regional connections within and between cerebellar and cerebral structures. We link neural activity patterns to a multitude of behaviors, allowing us to increase our understanding of the biological principles underlying the development of cerebro-cerebellar connections.
Our research line is embedded at the UMC Utrecht Department for Developmental Origins of Disease (head: Dr. Cora Nijboer). Moreover, we are part of the Dutch Brain Interface Initiative (DBI2), that consists of three intertwined research areas to leverage expertise across neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and hardware engineering. Together with partners from Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Technical University Delft, Radboud University and Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience we develop novel neuromonitoring and -stimulation methodologies to study developing brain networks in juvenile rodents. Ultimately, these innovations will allow us to vigurously test novel diagnostics and therapeutics for adverse early life events needed for neonatal intensive care patients.