Research
High-throughput Behavioral Analysis
Automated analyses of animal behavior contribute to a better understanding of basic biological processes and have relevance for disease prevention and treatment. The automated analyses are sensitive, unbiased, non-invasive and particularly useful when studying disorders with subtle functional defects. Our research focuses on developing various high-throughput imaging methodologies for automated analyses of behavior in zebrafish larvae and the use of these methodologies to screen for drugs with relevant effects on brain function.
Novel Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease-associated Behaviors
Calcineurin is a phosphatase with broad clinical significance. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, are used as immunosuppressants to prevent rejection of organ transplants and show promise in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. The Creton lab aims to translate the basic research findings in zebrafish to a preclinical Alzheimer’s mouse model. Specifically, the project will test the central hypothesis that identified drugs with cyclosporine-type effects on brain function will suppress molecular and behavioral markers of Alzheimer’s disease.
