My lab investigates the development and function of diverse classes of inhibitory neurons in subcortical brain structures, with emphasis on the thalamus. The thalamus plays a central role in sensory perception, attention and the sleep-wake cycle, and its dysfunction contributes to several psychiatric disorders. Our experimental approach relies on the combined application of functional neuroanatomy, genetics and behavioural tests to ultimately understand the role of inhibitory neurons in health and disease.

Please see my Research Staff Profile for more detail

Key publications:

• O. Brock, C.E. Gelegen, P. Sully, I. Salgarella, P. Jager, L. Menage, I. Mehta, J. Jęczmień-Łazur, D. Djama, L. Strother, A. Coculla, A. Vernon, S. Brickley, P. Holland, S. Cooke and A. Delogu* (2022). A role for thalamic projection GABAergic neurons in circadian responses to light. Journal of Neuroscience. 
• Jager P, Moore G, Calpin P, Durmishi X, Salgarella I, Menage L, Kita Y, Wang Y, Kim DW, Blackshaw S, Schultz SR, Brickley S, Shimogori T, Delogu A.* (2021) Dual midbrain and forebrain origins of thalamic inhibitory interneurons. Elife. 
• Huisman et al., 2019. Single cell transcriptome analysis of developing arcuate nucleus neurons uncovers their key developmental regulators. Nature Communications.
• Jager et al., 2016. Tectal-derived interneurons contribute to phasic and tonic inhibition in the visual thalamus. Nature Communications.
• Delogu et al., 2012. Subcortical visual shell nuclei targeted by ipRGCs develop from a Sox14+-GABAergic progenitor and require Sox14 to regulate daily activity rhythms. Neuron.

Key collaborators:

• Professor Stephen Brickley, Imperial College London
• Dr Katherine Long, King's College London. UK.
• Dr Tomomi Shimogori, RIKEN Centre for Brain Science, Japan.
• Dr Kaia Achim, University of Helsinki. Finland.