Jean-Francois Poulin

Jean-Francois Poulin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, where he joined The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute) in 2019. His research laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular diversity and circuit organization of dopamine neurons, which represent less than 0.001% of the neuronal cells in the human brain but are essential for proper brain function. Dr. Poulin's work spans both fundamental neuroscience and translational research on neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

• BSc: University of British Columbia, Psychology
• PhD: University Laval, Neurobiology
• Postdoc: Raj Awatramani's lab at Northwestern University

Dr. Poulin's research program centers on dopamine circuits and their role in brain function and disease. His laboratory studies how dopamine circuits form during development and how they become impaired in disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The lab operates under the hypothesis that each dopamine neuron subtype is embedded within a defined neural circuit with unique properties and functions. Current work involves mapping the neuronal circuits of dopamine neuron subtypes in both developing and mature mouse brains using advanced molecular and circuit tracing approaches. His team also investigates how these circuits are affected in transgenic models of disease, with a focus on structural synaptic integrity, neuronal connectivity, and aberrant circuit activation. A key goal is to develop novel viral and transgenic approaches to illuminate and manipulate dopamine circuits for potential therapeutic interventions.

Analysis of Dr. Poulin's publication record reveals a consistent focus on dopamine neuron diversity and circuit organization. His research employs cutting-edge techniques including single-cell gene expression profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and intersectional genetic approaches. The publications demonstrate a progression from fundamental characterization of dopamine neuron subtypes toward understanding their roles in disease models, particularly Parkinson's disease and autism spectrum disorders. His work bridges molecular neuroscience with systems-level circuit analysis, creating a comprehensive framework for investigating dopamine-related disorders.

Dr. Poulin's research is supported by major funding agencies including Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL), Brain Canada, and Parkinson's Canada. These grants enable his laboratory to pursue innovative approaches to mapping dopamine circuits and understanding their dysfunction in neurological disorders.

Dr. Poulin actively mentors a diverse team of researchers including multiple PhD and MSc candidates, research assistants, and undergraduate students. His laboratory develops novel molecular tools to map synaptic connections and investigates how dopamine circuit dysfunction contributes to symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorders. Current projects include understanding selective vulnerability in Parkinson's disease by identifying molecular signatures of vulnerable dopamine neuron populations, and linking specific dopamine circuits with behavioral symptoms in disease models.