What we’re working on

  1. Glial Biology

    Astrocytes have emerged as major players in intercellular signaling, which contribute to brain information processing, synaptic plasticity and neurovascular coupling. Astrocyte intracellular calcium signals are central to this communication and are triggered by neurotransmitter receptors in response to synaptic input.

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    Researcher measuring a sample with a micrometer

  2. Brain Energy Metabolism

    For decades the notion that glucose is taken up and metabolized by individual brain cells according to their relative need was carved in stone. Things are much more complex. We now know that the metabolic support of the brain is a concerted effort between the vascular system, glial cells, and neurons.

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    Gloved hand lifting a sample from a blue-lit culture dish

  3. Cerebrovascular Biology

    Our lab has spearheaded the use of reconstructions of realistic cortical vascular networks to investigate the neurovascular unit. We published work on the vascular topology, oxygen transport and fluid dynamics at the single erythrocyte level. This work has been carried out in a long-standing collaboration with colleagues at the Institute for Fluid Dynamics at the ETH Zurich.

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    Optical setup of a two-photon microscope