Atomu Sawatari

Dr. Atomu Sawatari is a Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences, affiliated with the Bosch Institute. Their research focuses on understanding neural circuit assembly, developmental neurobiology, and the impact of environmental enrichment on brain plasticity. Key areas include the role of teneurin proteins in visual and sensory pathway patterning, microglial dynamics during critical periods, and the structural-functional relationships of perineuronal nets in the striatum.

Research interests span molecular mechanisms of neural circuit formation, behavioral neuroscience, and translational approaches like optogenetics for vision restoration. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2007 demonstrate expertise in mouse models, genetic knockout studies, and neurodevelopmental processes.

Awards: No prizes explicitly mentioned, though work has been supported by grants from NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) and the Macular Disease Foundation Australia. Notable grants include equipment funding for behavioral phenotyping and optogenetic vision restoration research.

Labs/Teams: Active collaborations with Prof. Carla Leamey's group and involvement with Bosch Institute initiatives. Research integrates molecular biology, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis to study neurodevelopmental disorders and neural repair mechanisms.