معرفی
Christian Hansel is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on synaptic and intrinsic plasticity mechanisms in the cerebellum, particularly their roles in learning, memory, and neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The lab employs
- Patch-clamp recordings
- Confocal calcium imaging
- Immunohistochemistry
- Behavioral testing
Education:
- Diploma in Zoology from University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Ph.D. in Neurobiology from Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Germany
- Postdoc in Neurobiology at Johns Hopkins University
Research interests center on bidirectional synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation and depression) and intrinsic excitability changes in Purkinje cells, with a focus on
- Calcium-dependent signaling
- Climbing fiber-Purkinje cell interactions
- Alcohol's effects on cerebellar function
- Autism-related synaptopathies
- Neuronal ensemble dynamics
- Motor learning mechanisms
The 15 most recent publications highlight his work on cerebellar plasticity, autism models, and ion channel modulation. These studies appear in journals such as Elife, Nature Communications, and Neuron, spanning fields like Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Neurology.
Hansel serves as Principal Investigator on NIH grants including R01NS062771 (active through 2024) and R21NS140563 (2025-2027), exploring topics from synaptic gain control to climbing fiber signaling outside the cerebellum. His lab has contributed significantly to understanding how SK2 channels regulate neuronal excitability and how cerebellar dysfunction contributes to ASD.
