We study the molecular systems that allow neurons to convert electrical signals into long-term biochemical responses. Our work uncovers how these mechanisms are organized at specialized membrane contact sites in the cell and how their disruption contributes to brain disorders, including autism, psychiatric disease, and epilepsy.

Our research takes a multi-disciplinary approach, combining techniques such as electrophysiology and fluorescence microscopy with biochemical methods, including protein mass spectrometry and the generation and use of novel antibodies. We use these approaches to define the molecular mechanisms that couple neuronal firing to fundamental cellular processes including gene expression, metabolism, and ion channel function.