Michael Colicos

Dr. Michael Adrian Colicos

Positions

Associate Professor

Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Child Health & Wellness Researcher

Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

Contact information

Web presence

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-4594

Background

Educational Background

B.S. Biological Sciences, McMaster University, 1985

Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences, McGill University, 1999

M.S. Biological Sciences, McMaster University, 1988

Research

Areas of Research

Autism
Epilepsy
Molecular Mechanisms
Neuroplasticity
Synapsis
Activities

Michael's lab is focused on the study of synaptic physiology, including developmental synaptogenesis, structural synaptic plasticity, and neuronal circuit formation. This is done in the context of specific neuropathological disorders, namely epilepsy and autism. There is a strong translational component to the work, which centers around the use of a device developed by Michael and Yukiko Goda at UCSD, which allows an interface between living neurons and digital silicon technology. This technology is used to study how autism-related mutations alter communication between neurons, and to establish an in vitro model system to study epileptic seizures. Engineering ties also include the development of nano-materials that facilitate the interface with living neurons, and through collaborations with Physica and Complexity Colleagues he is investigatining the non-linear dynamics of information flow through living neuronal networks with the hope of understanding how the brain functions to perform the many complex tasks and behaviours of humans. Using these technologies and integrating them with basic neurophysiological studies, Michael hopes to make a real-world difference, bettering the lives of individuals with conditions such as epilepsy and autism.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Awards

  • Society for Neuroscience, 2010
  • The American Physiological Society, 2010
  • Thomas Tyson Endowment for Research in Epilepsy, 2010
  • award, 2009
  • scholarship, 2009
  • Society for Neuroscience, 2009
  • The American Physiological Society, 2009
  • Thomas Tyson Endowment for Research in Epilepsy, 2009