Nicholas Silva

Our mission is to understand how non-neuronal cells collectively known as glia regulate brain development and contribute to disease states. In the lab we focus on microglia, the dominant immune cell in the brain, which is responsible for essential functions including synapse formation and elimination, regulating neuronal activity, and eliminating whole neurons. We aim to identify and define key mechanisms for glial-neuronal function during development, hyperactive states, and autism spectrum disorder using the zebrafish vertebrate model.