Dr. Aniko Korosi
Within iCNS my research group focuses on studying the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the emotional and cognitive dysregulations typical in the context of psychiatric disorders, using preclinical in vivo mouse models. As stress exposure is a key risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders, we use mouse models of stress exposure during different life stages to induce depressive-like phenotypes and study in detail the neurobiological substrates contributing to these behaviors. We focus on key brain regions (hippocampus, hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex) and study if/how the different cell types (microglia, astrocytes and neurons) are affected by these stress exposure. We study these based on molecular profiling (e.g. RNAsequencing, proteomic), using immunofluorescent and histological approaches as well functional assessment (e.g microglial phagocytosis assay). We also to test proof of concept interventions targeting microglia and/or nutrtition based interventions with nutrients with anti-inflammatory (eg. Fatty acids) and antioxidant properties (e.g. polyphenols).
In work package 5 from iCNS our primary focus is in understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system within glia and beyond, as well as a detailed understanding of microglia-synapse interaction in the context of emotional dysregulation and cognitive impairments. We aim to use the novel chemical tools developed in WP4 to be able to assess the activity if specific enzymes, the interaction between synapses and microglia. In addition we will also test proof of concept interventions based on the targets which will be identified along the other workpackages.