Laboratory of Emotional Circuit Development (VIB-KU Leuven)

This unit is part of the Research Group Molecular Neurobiology who largely encompasses the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. The 240 researchers in this group study the molecular pathways of neuronal disease with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets. Major research questions focus on cell type vulnerability and single-cell heterogeneity, protein aggregation and proteopathic stress, synaptic function, as well as microglial activation and neuroimmunology. With 15 PIs (the majority of which are affiliated to the Department of Neurosciences) and 9 core facilities (including electron and light microscopy, bioinformatics, electrophysiology, FACS, mouse genetics and pathology, electrophysiology, protein structure and single-cell technologies) this research group applies a wide range of tools to further our understanding of both neuronal health and disease: from neuronal development, including neuronal wiring and synaptic plasticity, to neurological conditions such as ALS, dystonia, and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.