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Sâmia Joca

Joca Lab - Translational Neuropharmacology

How pscyhoactive drugs affect our brain to regulate mood, motivation and cognitive aspects associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders (e.g. depression and anxiety)? How can we use this information to understand disease neurobiology and foster the development of improved therapeutic for mental disorders?

These are some of the questions that our group is trying to answer. Our research focus is the mechanism of action of psychoactive drugs, primarly antidepressants, examining how these unique molecules influence neural plasticity, stress responses, and emotional regulation. We are particularly interested in understanding how lipid mediators, such as endocannabinoids, affect neuroplasticity and behavior.

We use translational approaches combining animal models of stress-related psychiatric disorders, in vitro models for drug testing (primary and immortalized cell cultures), molecular biology methods for protein and mRNA quantification, evaluation of drug-receptor interactions, neurochemical analysis (neurotransmitters and lipid mediators), and microscopy (immunofluorescence, confocal). We collaborate with different groups at Aarhus University and abroad to tackle our research questions with different methodological approaches and perspectives.

News


Funding awarded to explore the role of synaptic energetics in ageing and memory decline

Group Leader Chao Sun is awarded DKK 6.191.984 for his project from DFF. Photo: Lars Kruse, AU Photo
- Grants and awards

Group Leader Chao Sun has been awarded a Sapere Aude DFF Starting Grant to explore the mechanisms behind memory loss associated with ageing. A call…

Strengthening Danish–Japanese collaboration in Neuroscience

As part of the programme the delegation from Japan was invited for a tour in Mols Bjerge.
- Collaboration

On 19 and 20 June, a delegation from the Brain Research Institute visited DANDRITE to strengthen the collaboration between the two institutions,…

How RNA editing could help us understand the brain and disease

Professor Yonglun Luo Photo: Simon Byrial Fischel, Health Communication
- Research

A new study reveals important insights into the role of RNA editing in the brain, providing a valuable new resource to understand the brain’s complex…