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Julie L. Lefebvre is an Associate Professor in Molecular Genetics focused on developmental neurobiology and the formation of neural circuits. Her research investigates how neurons develop and wire neural circuits, seeking to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms that guide the formation of specific connectivity patterns. Her aim is to link alterations in neuronal development to abnormal circuit function and behavior, thereby understanding the changes that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Utilizing mouse models and molecular-genetic tools, she manipulates neurons at the population and single-cell level, conducts gene expression profiling, and applies microscopy techniques. Lefebvre is particularly interested in GABAergic inhibitory interneurons, critical for establishing the excitatory-inhibitory balance in the brain, and studies how early life insults can lead to disorders such as epilepsy and autism. Her focus also includes the study of cell-surface recognition molecules and their role in selective neuronal interactions that specify wiring and synaptic connectivity. Lefebvre’s research aims to advance strategies to restore function in neural circuits affected by developmental alterations and degenerative conditions.
Department of Sociology