We are also interested in investigating how early-life infections affect neurodevelopment and how they might influence susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Immune responses occurring throughout our body impact brain function and behavior. This is particularly dangerous in children, whose brain is still developing and hence is exceptionally vulnerable to insults. In fact, several lines of evidence support the idea that neuropsychiatric disorders result from disruptions in cellular interactions crucial for brain development, highlighting the need for early therapeutic interventions. Moreover, children who suffered systemic infections have a higher risk of neurologic and psychiatric diseases. We suggest that this is because severe or repeated early-life immune responses may critically perturb brain wiring. The overarching goal of the proposed work is to understand how early-life immune challenges impact the developing brain.