Marc Freeman, Ph.D.

Dr. Freeman's research program focuses on understanding glial biology: despite extensive cell-cell signaling between neurons and glia, very little is known about glial biology in any organism. For this project, he examines how astrocytes - key regulators of brain development, function, and maintenance - receive information from neurons, alter the function of other neurons, and affect behavior. A deep mechanistic understanding of glial cell biology and neuron-glia signaling in the nervous system may help to reveal fundamental principles of nervous system physiology and help determine how these processes go awry in disease.