Research Interests & Foci

CHOE LAB


Integrative Neurobiology of Social Behaviour

NEWS

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We are looking for new members to join us!

   OCTOBER 07, 2022

If you're looking for a postdoctoral fellow (flexible start date) or a graduate student position (Fall 2023 start), we would love to hear from you! Please apply with your CV and cover letter.

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Our lab was awarded a 5-year CIHR Project Grant

   JULY 14, 2022

We are grateful for this generous funding support!

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Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN) meeting

   May 15, 2022

Josh and Katy present their latest fiber photometry data at the CAN meeting in Toronto! 

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We welcome Manav and Jessica!

   May 01, 2022

Manav Shardha and Jessica Chen join our lab as undergraduate research students. 

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New publication - Oxytocin normalizes altered circuit connectivity for social rescue of the Cntnap2 KO mouse

   March 02, 2022

Dr. Choe's postdoctoral work at the Geschwind lab (UCLA) was published in the journal Neuron

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Katrina was named Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC)!

   January 12, 2022

Katrina was named Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in neurobiology of social behaviour. See Brighter World story here!


Want to see more lab news? Click here!

RESEARCH

The brain controls behaviour in an extremely complex manner, involving various processes at molecular, cellular, circuit, and network levels. Disease-linked gene mutations can create functional disruptions at any of these levels. In our lab, we use a multi-level, integrative research strategy to link how gene mutations associated with psychiatric disorders disrupt social behaviour.

Happy family

OXYTOCIN AND ASD

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone known to influence key components of social behaviour, such as relationship bonding and trust. We are currently investigating potential molecular and circuit mechanisms involved in impaired function of the central oxytocin system and its link to the social symptoms of ASD.

Aerial of a road

CONVERGENT AND DIVERGENT MECHANISMS IN NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia have a significant genetic component. More than 100 risk genes have been identified for each condition, and a number of these overlap across disorders. On which neurobiological pathways do these gene mutations converge? Conversely, how do single gene disruptions serve as a risk factor for multiple psychiatric disorders? We aim to answer these questions using an integrative research pipeline that combines molecular, cellular, and circuit approaches in animal models.

Our research is generously supported by..

TECHNIQUES



MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

qPCR

Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq

Immunohistochemistry

Western blotting




IMAGING

Brain clearing (e.g. iDISCO, SHIELD)

Lightsheet imaging

Confocal imaging

Fiber photometry calcium imaging




ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

In vitro slice electrophysiology​
(extracellular, whole-cell patch-clamp)

In vivo multi-unit electrophysiology in freely behaving mice

oxytocin neuron


MOUSE BEHAVIOUR

3-chamber social interaction test​

Juvenile social play

​Open field test

​Y Maze



MOUSE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

Structural MRI

Resting-state fMRI

Optogenetic fMRI

Pharmacologic MRI

PEOPLE

Katrina Choe, Ph.D.
@choekatr

Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (PNB)

CRC Tier 2 in Neurobiology of Social Behaviour

B.Sc. (Hons.), University of Toronto
Ph.D. Neuroscience, McGill University
Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCLA

Fun Fact: Katrina loves to snowboard. Her favourite spots include Le Massif, Quebec and Cardrona, New Zealand!

Read more

Katrina

Katy Celina Sandoval, M.Sc.
@katycelina_

Ph.D. Student
Neuroscience Graduate Program

M.Sc. Psychology, University of Calgary
B.Sc. Bishop's University 

Fun Fact: Katy loves to sing Latin music. She has previously released two albums as a singer!

Katrina

Joshua Rychlik, B.Sc.
@RychlikJoshua

M.Sc. Student
Neuroscience Graduate Program

B.Sc. McMaster University

Fun Fact: Josh is a Hamilton native, and a lover of cats.

Katrina



Aishwarya Patwardhan, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student
PNB Graduate Program

M.Sc. Stony Brook University
B.Sc. University of Buffalo

Fun Fact: Aishwarya is a trained musician and actress!

Katrina



Madeleine Matthews, B.Sc.

Research Assistant

B.Sc. McMaster University

Fun Fact: Madeleine has never played video games before!

Katrina



Stephanie Wang, B.Sc.

Administrative Assistant

B.Sc. McMaster University

Fun Fact: Stephanie loves to draw!

Katrina



Katherine Andrec

Undergraduate Research Student

Undergraduate program in Biology & PNB

Fun Fact: Katherine is a bit of a bubble tea fanatic!

Katrina



Manav Shardha

Undergraduate Research Student

Neuroscience Undergraduate Program

Fun Fact: Manav loves acting and musical theatres!

Katrina



Jessica Chen

Undergraduate Research Student

Undergraduate program in Biology & PNB

Fun Fact: Jessica has a pet bunny named Oreo!

Katrina

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

OXYTOCIN NORMALIZES ALTERED CIRCUIT CONNECTIVITY FOR SOCIAL RESCUE OF THE CNTNAP2 KO MOUSE.

Neuron (2022)

Choe, K.Y., Bethlehem, R.A.I., Safrin, M., Dong, H., Salman, E., Li, Y., Grinevich, V., Golshani, P., DeNardo, L.A., Peñagarikano,. O, Harris, N.G., Geschwind, D.H.
PubMed link

publication1

OPTOGENETIC FMRI AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF REGION-SPECIFIC CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE CEREBELLAR CORTEX AND FOREBRAIN.

NeuroImage (2018)

Choe, K.Y., Sanchez, C.F., Harris, N.G., Otis, T.S., and Mathews, P.J.
PubMed link

publication1

EFFECTS OF SALT LOADING ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF ASTROCYTES IN THE VENTRAL GLIA LIMITANS OF THE RAT SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS.

J Neuroendocrinology (2016)

Choe, K.Y., Prager-Khoutorsky, M., Farmer, W.T., Murai, K.K., and Bourque C.W.
PubMed link

publication2

HIGH SALT INTAKE INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE VIA BDNF-MEDIATED DOWNREGULATION OF KCC2 AND IMPAIRED BAROREFLEX INHIBITION OF VASOPRESSIN NEURONS.

Neuron (2016)

Choe, K.Y., Han, S.Y., Gaub, P., Shell, B., Voisin, D.L., Knapp, B.A., Barker, P.A., Brown, C., Cunningham,J.T., and Bourque, C.W.
PubMed link

publication3


COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

LINK

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Questions? Contact us!

Address:

Psychology Building
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4K1
Canada

E-mail:

choek@mcmaster.ca

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