Welcome to the Paradis Lab
Suzanne Paradis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Brandeis University
415 South St.
Waltham MA 02454
(781)736-5305 (office)
(781)736-3176/3177 (lab)
(781)736-3107 (fax)
E-mail Sue
Faculty Profile
Our Research
The human brain is comprised of billions of neurons that make trillions of synaptic connections. Synapses are specialized sites of cell-cell contact that mediate communication between cells in the nervous system and as such form the basis for all brain functions and human cognition. In order to understand how the brain is wired together, we must first understand how synapses form. To this end, our lab studies the molecular basis of synapse formation in the mammalian hippocampus. We utilize a variety of molecular, biochemical, and cell biological techniques to assay synapse formation using time-lapse imaging, imaging of fixed tissue, and electrophyiosological techniques. Our preps include dissociated hippocampal neurons, hippocampal slice cultures, and transgenic and knockout models. Areas of research interest include:
- The role of Class 4 Semaphorin signaling in synapse formation (Funding provided by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, and the March of Dimes)
- How the GTPase Rem2 regulates synapse development and dendritic morphology
- Continued gene discovery using RNAi technology to identify new molecules involved in both excitatory and inhibitory synapse formation (Funding provided by NIH/NIDA)
Emily Staudenmaier, Serena David, Anna Moore, Amy Ghiretti, Marissa Kuzirian, Jessie St. Martin, Sue Paradis bottom row Julie Wertz, Aram Raissi, Karen Tran (holding Henry), Gerda Ricken, Ilona Chudotvorova