Research in the Neuroscience Department
Carleton University is recognized as a global leader and pioneer in the field of neuroscience. In addition to its emerging strength in the area of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, the department established its international reputation for its research on the effects of stress on brain processes and mental health.
Carleton Neuroscience has diverse research programs that are leading cutting-edge discoveries in the field. Our research spans from the ‘neuron to neighborhood’, whereby our talented and successful faculty and students investigate biological, environmental, psychosocial, and developmental factors influencing the brain.
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Vulnerability and resilience to stress outcomes
Research Themes
- Cellular, genetic, immunological, and molecular determinants of vulnerability and resilience to stress
- Environmental, lifestyle, psychosocial, and socioeconomic factors contributing to vulnerability and resilience to stress outcomes
Researchers
Alfonso Abizaid, Argel Aguilar-Valles, Hymie Anisman, Amy Bombay, Melissa Chee, Amedeo D’Angiulli, Shawn Hayley, Kim Hellemans, Kim Matheson, Robyn McQuaid, Natalina Salmaso, John Stead, Hongyu Sun, Paul Villeneuve
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Impacts of trauma on the brain
Research Themes
- Intergenerational effects of trauma among Indigenous peoples
- Neural consequences of physical and psychological trauma
- Neuronal Impact of environmental insults ranging from psychological stress to neurotoxins to head injury
Researchers
Argel Aguilar-Valles, Hymie Anisman, Amy Bombay, Amedeo D’Angiulli, Shawn Hayley, Matthew Holahan, Kim Matheson, Patrice Smith, Robyn McQuaid, Paul Villeneuve
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Stress, nutrition, and metabolism
Research Themes
- Stress, feeding and metabolism
- Nutritional influences on brain function
- Neurobiology of microglial and astroglial cells
Researchers
Alfonso Abizaid, Hymie Anisman, Melissa Chee, Shawn Hayley, Zachary Patterson, Natalina Salmaso, Patrice Smith
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Neurodegeneration and neurological disorders
Research Themes
- Pathological mechanisms and treatments with an emphasis in Parkinson’s disease
- Dysregulated excitability in neurological disorders, including pain, epilepsy, and stroke
- Cellular, molecular, and psychosocial mechanisms modulating pain
- Socioenvironmental determinants of Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers
Amedeo D’Angiulli, Shawn Hayley, Mike Hildebrand, Matthew Holahan, Natalina Salmaso, Patrice Smith, Hongyu Sun
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Neurodevelopment and Plasticity
Research Themes
- Determinants of optimal neurocognitive development in children and youth
- Modelling molecular mechanisms of typical and atypical brain development
- Contribution of environmental, experiential, and genetic factors to developmental plasticity
Researchers
Alfonso Abizaid, Argel Aguilar-Valles, Amedeo D’Angiulli, Mike Hildebrand, Matthew Holahan, Natalina Salmaso, Patrice Smith, Hongyu Sun