Assistant Professor  |  Assistant Professor

Maurizio De Pittà

Neuroscience Platform

PhD

Address
Krembil Research Institute, 4KD509–60 Leonard Avenue , Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 0S8
Research Interests
Computational and translation neuroscience, Neuron-glial interactions, astrocytes, microglia, calcium signaling, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, genomics, neurodegeneration, connectomics, digital cell reconstruction, synaptic plasticity, memory, learning, neuron-glial networks, cell signaling.
Appointment Status
Primary
Accepting
Fellows, Graduates, Summer Students

Research Synopsis: 

Research Divisions:

Computational and Translational Neurosciences, Neurophysiology, Cell Biology. 

Appointments 

Primary: Department of Physiology 

Scientist, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, Canada 

External Scientific Member, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain 

Principal Investigator, ASTROTECH European Training Network 

Investigator, Spanish Network for Clinical Systems Neuroscience 

Research Interests: 

Dr. De Pittà’s long-term aim is to uncover neuron-glia interactions (NGIs) in the human brain at its multiple scales of organization and operation. In this framework, research at De Pittà’s group pursues three directions of investigation: 

i. Computational modeling of NGIs. We use various mathematical and computational tools from nonlinear dynamics, statistical mechanics, topology, and information theory to build NGI models. In doing so, we bridge NGIs across different brain levels – from subcellular and molecular signaling, to synaptic transmission, from local neuron-glial ensembles to cortical networks and brain macrocircuits underpinning cognition. 

ii. Development of digital twins of glial cells and NGIs circuits. We use connectomics in the human brain to reconstruct and model full-scale glial cells and neuron-glial ensembles digitally. In this framework, we collaborate with neurosurgeons and coordinate with local microscopy imaging facilities to develop protocols, algorithms and computational methods for handling and realistic 3D reconstruction of human neuron-glial tissue. 

iii. Development of the technology to monitor NGIs in humans. collaborate with bioinformaticians, physicists and chemists to exploit genomics, drug design and bioengineering approaches to develop quantitative imaging of NGIs in humans. 

Present Trainees:

Giulio Bonifazi (PhD candidate) 

Carlos Vivar Rios (PhD candidate) 

Selected Publications