We work on the role of rho family GTPases and their regulators in the plasticity of CNS synapses, as related to brain disease and recovery from brain injury. We are currently focussing on a regulator of the GTPase Rac1 which is upregulated with neuronal activity and plays a role in pruning of dendritic spines, the sites of excitatory synaptic input. We use in vitro cell culture models to understand what role this molecule plays in the homeostatic regulation of synapse number in developing and adult brain.
