Our first big grant (2020 NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research) has been awarded from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)!! These studies will provide the first whole-brain map of breast cancer-induced changes in neuronal activity. Additionally, we will transcriptionally profile these differentially activated neurons to identify key gene expression signatures underlying cancer’s effect on the brain. Finally, we will selectively manipulate these neurons and assess downstream changes in tumor and host physiology. Postdoc position openings will be announced soon.
Paper published in Science Advances!
A paper from Jeremy’s postdoc work at Stanford University with Dr. Luis de Lecea was published in Science Advances. Check it out here. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory did a write up of the main points of the story, which you can find here. This project was spearheaded by Dr. Shi-Bin Li in Dr. de Lecea’s lab, who is interested in understanding the interacting circuitry linking stress and arousal. Below, see figure 6 from the paper which demonstrates how optogenetic stimulation of CRH neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus alter systemic immunity.
First postdoc joins the lab - Nikita Francis
Nikita joins the lab fresh from her PhD at Stony Brook University/University of Rhode Island. In our lab, she will focus on the role of sleep neurocircuitry and sleep disruption in regulating anti-tumor immunity. Nikita is also the official ‘first’ postdoc in the lab!
Commentary published in Cell
Check out our commentary on the emerging field of cancer neuroscience here! This commentary is a result of an exciting meeting late last year at the Banbury Center near the CSHL campus.
Preprint published on BioRxiv
Our preprint is now available on BioRxiv here. We demonstrate that hypothalamic CRF+ neurons control stress-induced insomnia and contribute to systemic immunosuppression.
Chapter published!
Our chapter “Lateral hypothalamic control of sleep in the context of cancer” was published in Watson & Preedy’s “Neurological Modulation of Sleep” book. Check it out here.
New Preprint available on BioRxiv!
Our new preprint "Arousal-State Dependent changes in VTA-GABAergic Neural Activity” is available on BioRxiv! Take a peek and let us know what you think!
Paper published in Neurobiology of Aging!
Our paper on the effects of estradiol treatment on circadian rhythms in a rat model of menopause was published in Neurobiology of Aging! In this paper, we demonstrate that circadian rhythms in body temperature and activity can be boosted by exogenous estradiol treatment in aged rats, and this effect persists even when the treatment is delayed 3 months following ovariectomy (modeling menopause start). See the paper at this link.
Estradiol enhances biological rhythms in aged female rats.
Jeremy Awarded NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from BBRF!
Jeremy was awarded a NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. This 2-year grant will supplement his work while starting his new lab at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Specifically, this grant supports ongoing studies aiming to understand brain-periphery cross-talk and behavioral co-morbidities in cancer patients.
Answers Featured at Science Careers
A few months ago, an editor at Science Careers asked me how I maintain my lab notebook, and any strategies I have for making it a relatively painless process. My answers, and those of several other scientists, were published today. Check them out here!
A snippet of one of my lab notebooks (Credit: JCB).