Biomedical Graduate Studies

Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests
using zebrafish to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of Axon Regeneration in the PNS and CNS; using zebrafish to study the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as startle response modulation, decision making, learning and social interactions

Key words: zebrafish, axon, guidance, motoneuron, neural development, injury, nerve regeneration, learning, startle response, schizophrenia.

Description of Research
The Granato lab combines the optical clarity of zebrafish with live cell imaging and molecular/reverse genetic tools to tackle two fundamental questions in Neuroscience:

What are the molecular programs that enable axonal regeneration in the PNS and the CNS, molecularly how different are from each other and from well-studied signaling pathways that regulate axonal wiring during development? How do axons and glia interact following spinal cord or optic nerve injury.

What are the molecular and circuit level mechanisms underlying autism and schizophrenia relevant behaviors such as decision making, learning and social interactions?

These questions address fundamental question in neuroscience, and have significant relevance for human health. To get at this questions we use a variety of state of the art approaches, ranging from RNASeq, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and small molecule screens to whole brain activity imaging and live, laser mediate axon transections and live cell imaging at the single cell level to capture axon glia interactions.

Rotation Projects
For more info or just to chat about opportunities, ongoing rotation projects, or the lab's vision to maintain a fun and creative lab, contact Michael at granatom@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Lab personnel:
Melissa Baxter, Research Specialist
Dr. Beth Harvey, postdoctoral fellow
Dr. Alexandria Hulegaard, postdoctoral researcher
Jaffna Mathiaparanam, Neurocience graduate student