Neurotrophic factors are messengers in the communication between neurons.
They regulate neuronal differentiation and may he instrumental in the formation, stabilization and plasticity of synapses. Targeting of neurotrophic factors to their proper intracellular destination is essential for trophic signalling. Our goal is to understand how trophic factors regulate the development and connectivity of neural circuits. A major focus of our lab is to determine how neurotrophic factors are transported along the axon and how they are released from the axon terminals. By combining molecular, morphological, and pharmacological techniques, we hope to gain insights into the mechanisms and dynamics of trafficking of neurotrophic factors and to better understand how they affect the development, plasticity and possibly regeneration of neuronal connections in the brain.