Experimental neuropharmacology of neurodevelopment diseases

The research activity of the group is focused on the identification of new potential drug therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders using animal models. The study includes several aspects: first the identification of suitable animal models, then the study of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying some neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, and finally the possible therapeutic interventions. In particular, we are studying mouse models of maternal immune activation, both genetic and with acute inflammatory stimulus, in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders. The research project involves an analysis of changes in cortical structure both during the early stages of life and in adults, the study of the inflammatory state of both the mother and the offspring and how these changes affect behavior. Finally, we study how pharmacological treatments, for example with anti-inflammatory drugs or cannabidiol, can compensate or possibly restore the anatomical-functional and behavioral alterations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.