Through her research, Mimi aims to achieve a comprehensive and thorough understanding of brain function, by incorporating the functions of different cell-types in the brain, and by connecting signaling pathways characterized at cell biological levels to behavior. To accomplish this goal, she develops, validates and applies novel tools for imaging brain activity in a cell-type specific manner. Mimi contributes to the development of several molecular tools to push boundaries for observing brain activity. She is developing red-shifted neuromodulator and kinase sensors with reduced artefactual effects for multicolor imaging of different cell types in the brain, and for coupling with optogenetics. Together with her collaborators, Mimi validated the use of novel AAV capsids for delivery of sensor cargo non-invasively in rodents and non-human primates, which represent species closer to human physiology. She contributed to elucidation of signaling pathways through which norepinephrine and dopamine modulate hippocampal learning and memory via regulation of the voltage-gated calcium channel Cav1.2, providing solid mechanistic grounds down to regulation of single phosphorylated residues to explain behaviors, that can be targeted when these pathways are deranged in aging, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Earlier in her career, she also investigated the molecular requirements and sequences of Ca2+-dependent synaptic vesicle and large dense core vesicle exocytosis. As much as she likes neurobiology and neuroscience, Mimi enjoys reading, language learning, board games and practicing oboe and piano (when time allows).
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