Identifying the Role of Astrocytes in Neuronal Synapse Loss and Repair in Neurodegenerative Disease

We will address the role of astrocytes in neurodegeneration. Astrocytes have been traditionally understudied relative to the role of neurons. We will investigate how astrocytes regulate neuronal synapse formation and function from development to aging, how dysfunctional astrocytes contribute to neurodegenerative disease, and how astrocytes may be used to stimulate synaptic repair in disease.