Our lab is project- and question-driven rather than technique-focused. We use a large array of approaches and technology to tackle the questions at hand – some of which we have strong expertise in and some of which we constantly learn.
Slice electrophysiology
Whole-cell patch-clamp (V-clamp, I-clamp, Astro-patch) & extracellular recordings of synaptic activity
Molecular genetics
Includes transgenic and cell-specific inducible KO mouse lines, viral vectors, virus-assisted cell-specific CRISPR-Cas9 and more
In vivo micro-dialysis & infusion techniques
Includes reversed dialysis and osmotic mini-pumps
Molecular biology
Immuno-histochemistry, PCR, RT-PCR, TRAP (coming soon)
Measure and manipulation of astrocyte Ca2+
(GCaMP6f-based recording, AQUA-assisted analysis , and virus-assisted manipulation of astrocyte calcium excitability)
Optogenetics
In vitro optogenetics (cool-LED) coupled to electrophysiology & in vivo optogenetics (coming soon)
Behavioral testing
of spatial navigation and learning & memory, working memory, semantic memory, anxiety, social behavior, and more, coupled to in vivo pharmacology and DREADDS
Analytical chemistry
LC-MS for pharmacokinetic studies (collaboration with Paraza LLC) & HPLC
Electron Microscopy
Transmission EM and CLEM (collaboration with the WUCCI)
A multitude of other techniques are available
WashU is home to a number of centers and partnerships. As far as techniques, “the sky is the limit”.