What we study and how we do it.
Background
The laboratory is focused on the structure, function, development and physiology of peripheral neurons. In particular, we have been focused on studying the neurons found in the dorsal root ganglia. The cells found in this ganglia are sensory neurons responsible for transducing mechanical and thermal forces from the skin and internal organs to the spinal cord.
Development
The sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia are a heterogenous and diverse group of neurons. These neurons can be classified as nearly a dozen distinct cell types, each with a unique sensitivity to different intensities and types of mechanical and thermal force. These distinct subtypes are also anatomically distinct, innervating different parts of target organs and the spinal cord. A main focus of our laboratory is to understand how these distinct cell types emerge in development and form the appropriate synaptic connections with other cells in the animal.
Physiology
As each sensory neuron is thought to encode specific magnitude and intensity of mechanical or thermal force, our laboratory endeavors to measure exactly what activates each sensory neuron subtype in a fully in vivo context. To accomplish this, our laboratory uses in vivo multiphoton functional imaging to measure neural activity in intact animals to understand which sensory neurons subtypes are best suited to detect distinct types of mechanical and the thermal forces.