Carie R. Boychuk , PhD

Research

• Accepting new advisees Is accepting new doctoral advisees

Areas of expertise

• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Research Summary

The Boychuk Lab focuses on the role of brainstem autonomic circuits in the control of cardiometabolic function, with a specific emphasis on the generation of parasympathetic motor output to organ systems critical in the regulation of cardiometabolic physiology. Parasympathetic premotor neurons of the brainstem send direct axonal projections to parasympathetic ganglia located in close apposition to their organ projections. These ganglia are to varying degrees subservient to their premotor neuron, and therefore parasympathetic premotor neurons are critical in the overall generation of parasympathetic motor output. Despite a robust understanding of the anatomy of these systems, the mechanisms by which parasympathetic premotor neurons integrate upstream central neurotransmission and intracellular signaling cascades remain unclear, especially in the context of cardiometabolic diseases.

The goal is to contribute to the understanding of the generation of parasympathetic premotor neuron activity. Towards this goal, the Boychuk lab uses a multidisciplinary approach that includes integrated whole-animal approaches and brain slice electrophysiology. They pair both techniques with innovative neuroscience techniques, such as the generation of novel transgenic mouse lines and opto-/chemogenetics. Their efforts are important steps towards the development of centrally acting drugs that can effectively and safely alter parasympathetic motor output, since virtually no drugs exist on the market targeting this system.