This research develops automated tools to identify psychedelic-inspired compounds that restore lost neural connections associated with depression, anxiety, and addiction. Using advanced imaging and custom analysis software, the project screens potential therapeutics that promote neuronal growth, aiming to create treatments that repair brain circuitry rather than simply managing symptoms.

Psychiatric symptoms often precede neurodegenerative diseases, but the biological link remains unclear. This research examines the FMR1 gene using postmortem brain tissue to uncover shared molecular mechanisms, aiming to predict neurodegeneration earlier, improve treatment strategies, and reframe psychiatric symptoms as potential early warning signs.