Mark Beenhakker

Our research program aims to acheive a cellular- and circuit-level understading of epilepsy. The hard work of several undergraduate and graduate students supports this objective.

Here is my profile.

Katie Salvati

Environmental factors can trigger seizures. I aim to resolve the molecular mechanisms that govern this process. This aim has two components. First, I aim to understand how acute changes in diet regulate seizure expression in rodent models of absence epilepsy. Second, I seek to determine how hyperventilation triggers absence seizures in rats. By examining these two phenomena, I aim to uncover common mechanistic features underlying absence seizures. I am using electrophysiological and imaging techniques to identify such features.

Adam Lu

Not all epilepsies are the same. Indeed, some anti-epilepsy drugs can in fact exacerbate some forms of seizures. The GABA transporter (GAT) blocker tiagabine appears to be one such example. Case reports indicate that tiagabine can promote absence seizures, and I aim to understand how. To this end, I am developing bottom-up computational approaches to better understand why thalamocortical circuits are sensitive to GAT blockade. I am coupling my computational strategies with electrophysiological assays of thalamocortical circuit excitability.

Matt Ritger

Coming soon!

Adi Narahari

Adopted graduate student. I love this lab.

Brett Goerl

I am interested in identifying novel, plant-based treatments for epilepsy. I am working with Sarah to identify new compounds in hemp and cannabis plants that have anti-seizure properties.

Sarah Watkins

I am interested in identifying novel, plant-based treatments for epilepsy. I am working with Brett to identify new compounds in hemp and cannabis plants that have anti-seizure properties.

Priyashma Joshi

Coming soon!

Miriam du Plessis

I am currently working with Adam to develop a MATLAB-based software for synaptic event detection and am also assisting in virus injection and
infusion experiments.

Katerina Silis

I am a second year undergrad studying Neuroscience and Spanish. In my free time, I enjoy playing the cello for the Radio Music Society and being a resident in the Casa Bolívar. Right now in lab, I am helping Adam record thalamic oscillations in brain slices using the interface rig and am learning how to code with MATLAB.

Virginia Lynch

Coming soon!

Peter Klein

I miss the lab.

Lise Harbom

Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) approaches, I aim to design patient-specific therapies for patients with epilepsy. A major, early step in realizing this goal is to produce patient-specific neural circuits. I am currently developing strategies to reliably produce consistent, iPSC-based neural circuits.

Ashley Mason

I miss the lab.

Jacopo de Rossi

I miss the lab.

Prash Fenn

I miss the lab.

Simar Chawla

I miss the lab.

Mital Lavani

I miss the lab.

Navin Naik

I miss the lab.

Vignesh Sastri

I miss the lab.

Aman Kapadia

I am developing techniques to optically record the activity of thalamocortical neurons before, during and after absence seizures.

Brian Truong

I am currently working with Adam to develop computational approaches to better understand how GABA transporters regulate absence seizures.

Viktoria Usova

With Alexa, I hope to determine if long-term exposure to common anti-seizure drugs can have adverse developmental and/or behavioral effects. We are using several tests to evaluate the behavior of adult animals treated with anti-seizure drugs since their youth.

Alexa Gracias

With Viktoria, I hope to determine if long-term exposure to common anti-seizure drugs can have adverse developmental and/or behavioral effects. We are using several tests to evaluate the behavior of adult animals treated with anti-seizure drugs since their youth.