Research Interests & Foci
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.
JULY 14, 2022
We are grateful for this generous funding support!
May 15, 2022
Josh and Katy present their latest fiber photometry data at the CAN meeting in Toronto!
May 01, 2022
Manav Shardha and Jessica Chen join our lab as undergraduate research students.
March 02, 2022
Dr. Choe's postdoctoral work at the Geschwind lab (UCLA) was published in the journal Neuron!
January 12, 2022
Katrina was named Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in neurobiology of social behaviour. See Brighter World story here!
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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!
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.
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!
Madeleine Matthews, B.Sc.
Research Assistant
B.Sc. McMaster University
Fun Fact: Madeleine has never played video games before!
Stephanie Wang, B.Sc.
Administrative Assistant
B.Sc. McMaster University
Fun Fact: Stephanie loves to draw!
Katherine Andrec
Undergraduate Research Student
Undergraduate program in Biology & PNB
Fun Fact: Katherine is a bit of a bubble tea fanatic!
Manav Shardha
Undergraduate Research Student
Neuroscience Undergraduate Program
Fun Fact: Manav loves acting and musical theatres!
Jessica Chen
Undergraduate Research Student
Undergraduate program in Biology & PNB
Fun Fact: Jessica has a pet bunny named Oreo!
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
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
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
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
COMPLETE LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
LINK
Psychology Building
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4K1
Canada
choek@mcmaster.ca
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