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Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum
Research Institute
Mount Sinai Hospital
Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Health Complex
600 University Ave.
Toronto ON M5G 1X5
Tel.: 416-586-4800 ext. 4516
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Dr. John
Georgiou
SCIENTIST
Dr. Georgiou is a research scientist
specializing in neuroscience, the study of the nervous system. He is
interested in deciphering the defects that occur in a variety of brain
disorders. Of particular interest are the learning & memory
dysfunctions in Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorders,
multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders. He aims to find i)
methods to enhance cognitive function and i) treatments for preventing
these disorders.
While neurodevelopmental changes can
lead to some of the above-mentioned brain disorders, all of these
disorders are associated with impairments in synaptic communication
and/or plasticity. Synaptic plasticity modulates the strength of
neuronal signals, and is recognized as the cellular mechanism
underlying learning & memory. Thus the work aims to understand and
identify changes in brain communication, at the level of tiny
communication hubs between neurons, known as synapses.
Multiple recording methods are
employed including microscopy (imaging), electrophysiology (electrical
signals), behaviour (learning & memory cognitive performance
tasks), and biochemistry (genetic material and molecular composition).
Biological functions are studied at levels ranging from the whole
animal (mouse models of disease) down to brain circuits, cells and
molecules. Understanding the mechanisms involved in brain cell
development, communication, and plasticity (including remodeling) are
critical for designing and testing new treatment approaches that are
urgently needed.
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