Mental health disorders are currently on the rise, especially among children and young people. A significant risk factor for mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety, is early life stress or trauma.

Early life stress impacts brain function at the cellular level, leaving behind molecular 'scars' that can persist across the lifespan and, in turn, can shape our mental health trajectories. Likewise, early life stress can increase the likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or contribute to the frequent co-occurrence of ASD with depression and anxiety.
By integrating different levels of analysis, ranging from cutting-edge molecular tools to sophisticated behavioral tasks, my lab studies how stress—both in early life and adulthood—affects brain development and function.
Our goal is to uncover what makes some individuals more vulnerable and find ways to promote resilience in individuals exposed to stress.