QB3 Webinar: Anna Molofsky, UCSF. “Neuroimmune Regulation of Brain Development and Plasticity”

Synapse remodeling is essential to brain development, learning, and to maintain healthy brain function. Synapses are impacted in many diseases including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), epilepsy, and schizophenia. Brain development depends on the dynamic interactions of multiple cell types, including neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, the immune cells of the brain. Our long term goal is to define how the non-neuronal elements of the brain- particularly immune and glial cells – impact brain development and function. We use transcriptomics, mouse genetics, and high resolution imaging to achieve these goals.