Cole Vonder Haar
Contact Information
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Areas of Expertise
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Neurotrauma, Neurological Disorders, and Gene/Clinical Therapies
- Stress and Neuroimmunology
Education
- PhD: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Postdoctoral Training: University of British Columbia
Current Research Description
Dr. Vonder Haar’s research is focused on behavioral dysfunction, particularly as it relates to disease states. Psychiatric-like impairments are very common after traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The lab uses rodent models of TBI to better understand why these problems develop and how they might be treated. One such avenue includes investigation of neuroinflammation to determine whether this is a viable treatment target for the long-term symptoms of TBI. Another line of research looks at long-term changes in the dopamine system as a potential driver of psychiatric-like impairments. Cutting across all of this is a strong focus on behavioral assessments which maximize translational relevance.
We use a collection of high-throughput operant behavioral techniques to chronically assess impulsivity, decision-making, and other outcomes. We also make use of other behavioral neuroscience techniques, including mazes and motor measures. We use stereotaxic surgery to perform interventions such as brain injury or implants. In the wet lab, we use a collection of microscopy techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry) and other protein measurements (e.g., Western blot, ELISA).