Portera-Cailliau Research Lab

Logo of Portera-Cailliau Lab with black and white panel of cells.

Welcome to Portera-Cailliau Lab

Studying autism, neuropsychiatric conditions, and brain development.

About Our Lab 

A Symptom to Circuit Approach for Neurodevelopmental Conditions

We have adopted a reverse engineering approach to the study of developmental brain disorders. We focus on a particular symptom in humans (sensory hypersensitivity, learning disability, social aversion), and start by developing behavioral assays in rodent models that relate specifically to that symptom. 

Once we identify conserved behavioral phenotypes, we probe the corresponding circuits and identify the differences in neuronal functional connectivity that bring about those behaviors/symptoms.  We are leveraging the latest techniques in modern circuit neuroscience research to record neuronal activity (in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging, Neuropixels silicon probes), and then leverage cutting-edge methods for manipulating neuronal activity (chemogenetics with DREADDs, optogenetics) to restore network function and then test whether this also mitigates behavioral phenotypes. 

Thus, a major goal of the lab is to conduct preclinical studies to identify novel therapies for neuropsychiatric conditions. Our research is particularly relevant to types of intellectual disability or autism that lack distinct neuropathological features and are therefore more likely caused by subtle differences in how neuronal activity propagates across brain circuits.

Explore Our Research

  • TRAPGCaMP6s861 with Zstack3, showing cortical pyramid neuron.Cortical pyramidal neuron expressing cFos (using TRAP approach).
    Cortical pyramidal neuron expressing cFos (using TRAP approach).
  • Green and red view of GFP-expressing layer 4 pyramidal neurons and anti-Cux1 immunostaining.
    GFP-expressing layer 4 pyramidal neurons (green) and anti-Cux1 immunostaning. (Cux1 is a marker of layer 2-4 cortical neurons).
  • Multi-panel view of in vivo 2-photon time-lapse imaging of Cajal-Retzius neurons in Ebf2-GFP mice.
    In vivo 2-photon time-lapse imaging of Cajal-Retzius neurons in Ebf2-GFP mice from postnatal day 6 to postnatal day 12. Apoptotic profiles of dying Cajal-Retzius neurons are indicated with red arrows.
  • Black and white view of apical dendritic segments imaged with in vivo 2-photon microscopy.
    Apical dendritic segments (with spines and filopodia) from layer 5 pyramidal neuron imaged with in vivo 2-photon microscopy.
  • White and black shot of L2-3 neurons.
    Side view of a 2-photon image-stack projection of layer 2/3 cortical pyramidal neurons.
  • TRAPGCaMP6s861 with Zstack3, showing cortical pyramid neuron.Cortical pyramidal neuron expressing cFos (using TRAP approach).
  • Green and red view of GFP-expressing layer 4 pyramidal neurons and anti-Cux1 immunostaining.
  • Multi-panel view of in vivo 2-photon time-lapse imaging of Cajal-Retzius neurons in Ebf2-GFP mice.
  • Black and white view of apical dendritic segments imaged with in vivo 2-photon microscopy.
  • White and black shot of L2-3 neurons.