DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY LAB
WHAT WE DO
Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms that underlie the formation of neural circuits,
specifically studying the role of adhesion proteins in synapse formation and circuit development
in oligodendrocytes and neurons in the forebrain.
We study several developmental processes:
1. Proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neurons and glia
2. Synapse formation & Function
3. Myelination
RESEARCH PROJECTS
OLIGODENDROCYTE DEVELOPMENT AND MYELINATION
1. Is activity necessary for oligodendrocyte proliferation and differentiation?
2. Is myelination activity-dependent?
3. Is activity in neuronal- glial microcircuits instructive for myelination?
4. What is the role of ion channel function in OPC differentiation and in neuronal-glial microcircuits?
5. Do mutations in synaptic adhesion proteins cause defects in neuronal-glial synapse formation and myelination?
ABOUT
Laura Cocas is a developmental neurobiologist at Santa Clara University. She completed her PhD at Georgetown University in the Corbin lab studying the genetic regulation of cell fate in the basal forebrain.. She was then awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to research synapse formation using viral circuit tracing at the University of Basel, Switzerland in the Scheiffele Lab. She continued her research as a postdoctoral fellow at UCSF in the Pleasure Lab, using viral tools to probe developing cortical circuits and neural glial connections.
At Santa Clara University, she is a Principal Investigator examining neural circuit formation and myelination in the developing forebrain.
COCAS LAB
LAURA COCAS, PHD
Principal Investigator
Santa Clara University
DANIELA MOURA, PHD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Santa Clara University
MARY FRANCIS GARCIA
Neuroscience '23
Santa Clara University
ISAAC TOSCANO
Neuroscience '23
Santa Clara University
CHRISTOPHER ARELLANO REYES
BIOLOGY '23
Santa Clara University
CHLOE FRANZIA
Biology '23
Santa Clara University
IRIS TILTON
Neuroscience '23
Santa Clara University
ROBBY BROCK
Neuroscience '22
Santa Clara University
LAB ALUMNI
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DAVID TRAVER
Research Associate
Neurona
TALIA MENEZES
Clinical Research Coordinator
Stanford University
ATEHSA SAHAGUN
Graduate Student
UC Berkeley
Neuroscience
MAGNUS SANDBERG, PHD
Scientist II
Zai Lab
ETHAN KAUFMAN
Bioengineering '21
Santa Clara University
EMMA BRENNAN
Research Assistant
Washington University
ANMOL JANDAUR
ALEKHYA PARVATHANENI
KAREN KIKUTA
Medical Assistant
Medical Student
University of Washington, St. Louis
Clinical Research Coordinator
Stanford
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
How we find answers.
We use genetic tools to alter gene expression in the neurons and glia of the embryonic cerebral cortex in vivo and in vitro, using electroporation, transgenic mice, and primary neuronal cultures.
We use viral tools to label and map circuits in the developing cerebral cortex in vivo.
We manipulate activity in neurons using electroporation of channel proteins as well as DREADDs and optogenetics.
PUBLISHED WORK
CELL TYPE SPECIFIC MONOSYNAPTIC VIRAL CIRCUIT TRACING IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN. IN A. POULOPOULOS
2017
Cocas, L., and Fernandez-Garcia, G. (2017). Cell Type Specific Monosynaptic Viral Circuit Tracing in the Developing Brain. In A. Poulopoulos, (Ed.), Methods in Molecular Biology: Synapse Development, vol. 1538. ISBN 978-1-4939-6688-2.
CELL TYPE SPECIFIC VIRAL CIRCUIT TRACING REVEALS NOVEL INSIGHTS INTO THE PRESYNAPTIC CONNECTIVITY OF DEVELOPING CORTICAL CIRCUITS.
2016
Cocas, L. A., Fernandez-Garcia, G., Doll, J., Zamora-Diaz, I., and Pleasure, S.J. (2016). Cell Type Specific Viral Circuit Tracing Reveals Novel Insights into the Presynaptic Connectivity of Developing Cortical Circuits. Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (11), 3378-90.
WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME: ECTOPIC PROGENITORS CAUSE CORTICAL HETEROTOPIAS.
2014
Cocas, L., & Pleasure, S.J. Wrong place, wrong time: ectopic progenitors cause cortical heterotopias. Nature Neuroscience, 2014 Jun 25; 17(7): 894-5
PAX6 IS REQUIRED AT THE TELENCEPHALIC PALLIAL-SUBPALLIAL BOUNDARY FOR THE GENERATION OF NEURONAL DIVERSITY IN THE POST-NATAL LIMBIC SYSTEM.
2011
Cocas, L. A., Georgala, P. A., Mangin, J.-M., Clegg, J. M., Kessaris, N., Haydar, T., Gallo, V. Price, D. J., and Corbin, J. G. (2011). Pax6 is required at the telencephalic pallial-subpallial boundary for the generation of neuronal diversity in the post-natal limbic system. Journal of Neuroscience, 31 (14), 5313-24.
EARLY-BORN EMX1-LINEAGE PROGENITORS DIFFERENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO NEURAL DIVERSITY IN THE MATURE STRIATUM AND AMYGDALA.
2009
Cocas, L. A., Miyoshi, G., Carney, R.S., Sousa, V. M., Hirata, T., Jones, K., Fishell, G., Huntsman, M., and Corbin, J. G. (2009). Early-born Emx1-lineage progenitors differentially contribute to neural diversity in the mature striatum and amygdala. Journal of Neuroscience, 29, 15933-46.
2009
Cited in F1000: Richards L and Moldrich R: F1000Prime Recommendation of Evaluation [Cocas LA et al., J Neurosci 2009, 29(50):15933-46]. In F1000Prime, 03 Mar 2010; DOI: 10.3410/f.2274963.1895064. F1000Prime.com/2274963#eval1895064
IDENTIFICATION OF DISTINCT TELENCEPHALIC PROGENITOR POOLS FOR NEURONAL CELL DIVERSITY IN THE AMYGDALA.
2009
Hirata, T., Li, P., Lanuza, G. M., Cocas, L. A., Hunstman, M., and Corbin, J. G. (2009). Identification of distinct telencephalic progenitor pools for neuronal cell diversity in the amygdala. Nature Neuroscience, 12, 141-9.
DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF TELENCEPHALIC PALLIAL-SUBPALLIAL BOUNDARY PATTERNING BY PAX6 AND GSH2.
2008
Carney, R.S., Cocas, L.A., Hirata, T., Mansfield, K., and Corbin, J.G. (2008). Differential Regulation of Telencephalic Pallial-Subpallial Boundary Patterning by Pax6 and Gsh2. Cerebral Cortex, 19, 745-59.