Ashby lab

neuroscience research at the University of Bristol

Our research

Research in the Ashby lab investigates plasticity of the brain, focussing on early life development of synaptic and neuronal circuit function and on how abnormal synaptic biology contributes to neurodegenerative disease. Using cutting-edge fluorescence imaging, photostimulation and eletrophysiological approaches in mouse and human brain slices and in vivo in mouse models, we have contributed to understanding of emerging synapses in the developing brain and how synaptic turnover shapes ongoing changes in neuronal connectivity. Specific examples include using 2-photon calcium imaging to show novel modes of dendritic signalling during synaptic plasticity and in vivo imaging of disruptions to structural synaptic plasticity and neuronal activity in mouse models of neurodegenerative dementia.

Our team

Our research is underpinned by an open and collaborative mindset. While individuals have a range of experience, from group leader to postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students, everyone's input is hugely valued. As such, while each researcher has their own project, we all commit to supporting each other to ensure the best working environment for all. And we love our lab retreats....

Publications

  • Sabec MH, Adam O and Ashby MC (2025) ‘Pharmacological restoration of deficits in mitochondrial trafficking rescues aberrant axonal activity in tauopathy’. bioRxiv, p. 2025.05.02.651902

  • Dunot J, Moreno S, Gandin C, Pousinha PA, Amici M, Dupuis J, Anisimova M, Winschel A, Uriot M, Petshow SJ, Mensch M, Bethus I, Giudici C, Hampel H, Wefers B, Wurst W, Naumann R, Ashby MC, Laube B, Zito K, Mellor JR, Groc L, Willem M, Marie H (2024) ‘APP fragment controls both ionotropic and non-ionotropic signaling of NMDA receptors’ Neuron 112, 2708-2720.e9.

  • Meftah S, Cavallini A, Murray TK, Jankowski L, Bose S, Ashby MC, Brown JT, Witton J* (2024) Synaptic alterations associated with disrupted sensory encoding in a mouse model of tauopathy. Brain Communications 6, fcae134.

  • Davy O, Perrins R, Lavigne M, Kremer E, Tsaneva-Atanasova K, Ashby MC, Pickering AE (2022). ‘Noradrenergic cross-modular reciprocal inhibition within the locus coeruleus’ BioRxiv 2022.09.07.506929

  • Cross CM, Mediavilla L, Luyt K & Ashby MC (2021) ‘Early functional connectivity in the developing sensorimotor network that is independent of sensory experience’, bioRxiv, 2021.06.14.448057.

  • Lazic SE, Mellor JR, Ashby MC & Munafo MR (2020). A Bayesian predictive approach for dealing with pseudoreplication. Scientific Reports 10, 1–10.

  • Jackson JS, Johnson JD, Meftah S, Murray TK, Ahmed Z, Fasiolo M, Hutton ML, Isaac JTR, O’Neill MJ, & Ashby MC (2020). Differential aberrant structural synaptic plasticity in axons and dendrites ahead of their degeneration in tauopathy. bioRxiv, 2020.04.29.067629.

  • Lees RM, Johnson J, Ashby MC (2020). Presynaptic Boutons That Contain Mitochondria Are More Stable. Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience 11, 37.

  • Tigaret, CM, Chamberlain SEL, Sadowski JHLP, Hall J, Ashby MC, Mellor JR. (2018). Convergent Metabotropic Signaling Pathways Inhibit SK Channels to Promote Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus. J. Neurosci. 38, 9252–9262.

  • Carmichael RE, Wilkinson KA, Craig TJ, Ashby MC, and Henley JM (2018). MEF2A regulates mGluR-dependent AMPA receptor trafficking independently of Arc/Arg3.1. Scientific Reports 8, 5263.

  • Jackson, JS, Witton, J, Johnson, JD, Ahmed, Z, Ward, M, Randall, AD, Hutton, ML, Isaac, JT, O’Neill, MJ, and Ashby, MC (2017). Altered Synapse Stability in the Early Stages of Tauopathy. Cell Reports 18, 3063–3068.

  • Lees, RM, Peddie, CJ, Collinson, LM, Ashby, MC, and Verkade, P (2017). Correlative two-photon and serial block face scanning electron microscopy in neuronal tissue using 3D near-infrared branding maps. Methods in Cell Biology 140, 245–276.

  • Tigaret, CM, Olivo, V, Sadowski, JHLP, Ashby, MC, and Mellor, JR (2016). Coordinated activation of distinct Ca2+ sources and metabotropic glutamate receptors encodes Hebbian synaptic plasticity. Nature Communications 7, 10289.

Contact Us

We are always excited to discuss our research. If you have any questions or might be interested in working or studying with us, please get in touch.

School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
University of Bristol
Biomedical Sciences Building
University Walk
Bristol
BS8 1TD
United Kingdom