Dr. Gilbert Kirouac

Biography

Dr. Kirouac is a professor in the Department of Oral Biology with cross-appointments in the Departments of Psychiatry and Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences at the University of Manitoba. His combined interest in animal behavior, training, neuroanatomy, and physiology has developed into a unique expertise for investigating brain circuits that regulate fear and anxiety. He is an internationally recognized expert in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, which has become a hot area of research pursued in laboratories worldwide. Dr. Kirouac's current research, driven by his interest in the PVT, has been ongoing since the mid-1990s, and his group continues to influence research concerning the PVT. His research area focuses on behavioral neurosciences aimed at understanding brain circuits that translate emotional experiences into motivated behavior. The laboratory applies various anatomical, pharmacological, and molecular techniques to investigate complex interconnected brain circuits that mediate adaptive behaviors in animal models. Research is primarily funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, focusing on neuroanatomy and the brain's emotional-behavioral circuits for examining fear and anxiety in animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Research Interests