Preliminary data suggest a possible involvement of the melatonin MT1 but not MT2 receptor in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The main objective of this short project is therefore to investigate at preclinical level whether the first selective MT1 receptor partial agonist to be synthesized (UCM871) can improve the bipolar symptomatology of the mice genetically […]

Choices allow us to navigate through physical space, to literally or figuratively problem-solve, to achieve goals. While this behavioural phenomenon is common across time and space for our human species, many other species make movement choices as well. The objective of my research is to assess how individual and social factors influence route choice decisions […]

The arctic is warming at an accelerated rate, and this current speed of change is largely driven by industry. These changes to the oceanic conditions in the arctic are causing perturbations throughout the water column, causing disruptions throughout the food-web. These warming patterns are not consistent across the arctic; species persisting in these regions are […]

In the Arctic, environmental variability is currently increasing. Variability in sea ice dynamics, such as the timing of ice-off and concentration of sea ice, these in turn affect distributions and abundance of fish and invertebrate species. Thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), an Arctic-breeding seabird, are expected to be greatly affected by changes in sea ice dynamics, […]

The human population is increasing, as is the number of individuals living within cities. This is increasing the demand for infrastructure, which cities are now attempting to meet through densification instead of urban sprawl. However, densification is threatening the quality and extent of urban greenspace. One atypical form of greenspace, urban cemeteries, may be better […]

The present proposal seeks to address an urgent need to evelop new trugs that target metastatic cancer with high efficacy and specificity. The type 1 insulin like growth factor (IGF-I) is a growth-promoting factor implicated in cancer cell growth and metastasis. The receptor for IGF-I has been validated as a target for anticancer therapy in […]

Microplastics (Mps) are usually defined as plastic particles

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the presence of three copies of chromosome 21, leading to dementia in later life of the patients. DS patients develop characteristic Alzheimer’s pathologies, including the amyloid-beta plaque formation, tau hyperphosphorylationto form neurofibrillary tangles and abnormal synaptic function and plasticity. Growing evidence has shown that impaired insulin signaling plays a […]

There is little known about the extent to which native bees can incorporate non-native plants into their diets, and the costs or benefits associated with their use. Many wild bees are dietary specialists, collecting pollen exclusively from certain plant families, and many specialists prefer pollen from the daisy (Asteraceae) family. In our high-elevation study system […]

Doctors are learning that nutrition plays a very important role in patient outcomes. Research has shown that protein is especially critical to patient health and recovery, especially for the elderly and severely ill. The quality of the protein, and the quantity of protein that patients receive makes a big difference. This project will examine how […]

The harmful effects of smoking on fetal development, child health, and maternal wellbeing are well described, making smoking cessation during pregnancy and the postpartum period a global health priority. Although a large proportion of expecting mothers will spontaneously quit smoking during pregnancy, the majority will restart smoking within 6 months post-pregnancy. Efforts to reduce smoking […]

Collision avoidance can be described as a whole-body movement control problem in which visual information is used to elicit accurate movement adaptations. Age-related visuomotor degradation is a potential factor contributing to mobility difficulties in older adults. However, there remains a gap in understanding what age-related visuomotor changes are causing older adults to be more susceptible […]