Keran Ma

The Ma lab aims to understand neuron-glia interactions and cellular dysfunction underlying behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer's disease at the molecular, cellular, circuit and network levels. We are interested in investigating neuronal functional deficits and modulation of neuronal activity by microglia and astrocytes in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. We employ advanced state-of-the-art tools in in vivo electrophysiology and multi-photon imaging in awake behaving mice, virtual reality behavioral paradigms, machine learning, and RNA sequencing to address our research questions. We use optogenetics, genetic manipulation and pharmacological intervention to modulate specific neuronal and glial functions to gain further mechanistic insight for therapeutic interventions.