Christopher G. Wilson, PhD

My laboratory is primarily interested in the generation and modulation of respiratory rhythm in the mammalian central nervous system. In the past decade, we have focused on apnea of prematurity and other breathing problems that premature infants suffer. The questions we seek to answer are: How does the brain generate the drive for breathing? How is breathing pattern modulated by reflexes and chemosensation? How can we improve breathing regularity in premature infants?

We use electrophysiology techniques (extracellular single-unit recording, whole cell patch-clamp, electrochemistry) and fluorescence imaging (calcium indicators, pH sensitive dyes, cell specific markers) to explore the dynamic relationship between cells that are phasically active during breathing. Our chief animal model is the developing rat but we also use mice to explore genetic variability in the respiratory neural substrate.