Mark Austin

Biography

Dr. Austin joined the Biological Sciences department in 2012. His research interests have primarily focused on examining the molecular basis of the pathophysiology of major depressive illness and stress responses. Much of this research has focused on the serotonin system and associated sex differences, epigenetic mechanisms, molecular links associated with co-morbidity of obesity and diabetes with depressive illness, neurodevelopmental consequences of early life stress and the molecular basis for the structural brain abnormalities in depression and mild traumatic brain injury. His research program utilizes multiple models, including rodent stress models, transgenic mice and in vitro cell culture as well as a variety of molecular tools including DNA microarray expression profiling, qPCR, immunoblot and immunofluorescence histochemistry. Our aims are to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the neurobiology of major depressive disorder and the neurodevelopmental consequences of early life perturbations on the synaptic plasticity and functional integrity of the central nervous system.

Research Interest

Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and other neurological disorders.