#1 — Marmoset Models for Neurodevelopmental Research

Studying how a brain grows is a long game. In humans, the process unfolds over decades. Which creates a bottleneck for research. How can you test an idea about development if you have to wait twenty years for your subject to grow up? One way around that is to find a subject that lives on a compressed timeline. We're talking about the marmoset. An entire developmental arc, from birth to adulthood, plays out in under two years. It opens a window to watch processes related to social cognition unfold step by step. But that speed creates its own problems. How do you adapt your methods to get a clear picture of a brain that small? You have to build the entire platform from scratch. And behind that technical work is a personal challenge. We'll hear about what it takes to start a lab from the ground up, while also managing a young family, and the persistent feeling that you might not be ready for it all. Starting a lab is a significant step. One researcher at McGill University, who began her assistant professorship three years ago, recalls not feeling ready for the transition. Her path began in France, where she completed her education through a in neuroscience. She then moved to Canada for a postdoctoral position in Stefan Everling's lab at Western University, seeking to work abroad and strengthen her English skills. Her research now centers on the neurodevelopment of social cognition and how the brain integrates multiple senses. The work examines how these functions are affected in neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder. To do this, her lab uses a specific model: the marmoset. This small non-human primate reaches adulthood in less than two years, which permits the study of developmental mechanisms in a compressed timeframe. Working with this model presents specific technical puzzles. The team must adapt methods and troubleshoot how to get the best quality from such a small brain. The researcher notes her enjoyment of this collaborative problem-solving. The platform they develop also has applications beyond its original purpose. For instance, it contributes to the TRIDENT project with Western University, which looks at neurodegenerative disease. After three years of establishing their platform and collecting baseline data, the lab is preparing for its next phase. They plan to use their and behavioral techniques on a new transgenic marmoset model developed by colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital. This will allow for direct comparisons between control animals and a preclinical model of a neurodevelopmental disorder. Reflecting on her career, she advises trainees to be proactive. Instead of waiting until the end of a or postdoc, she recommends building a network and exploring opportunities early. This increases the options available. While she mentions feeling imposter syndrome, she finds pride in having assembled the right team to make the lab function effectively. To manage the demands of the job, which she started while raising two young children, she prioritizes. After intense periods of work to meet a deadline, she makes a point to pull back and refocus on family and other parts of life. So you troubleshoot the technology, you build the platform, and you start collecting the baseline data. The foundation is set. And now the work can really begin: applying those tools to new models, to see what they can reveal about the mechanics of neurodivergence. But that story isn't just about the methods. It's about building the team that makes the work possible, and navigating the pressure that comes with every new step. It’s a reminder to be proactive, to build your network, and to start thinking about the next opportunity long before you feel you have to. Behind the Research will be back soon.