Konstantinos Ampatzis

A defining feature of the nervous system is its remarkable plasticity, the lifelong capacity of neural circuits to adapt to internal and external changes. Understanding how neurons respond to environmental and physiological challenges is central to our research. Our work focuses on uncovering the mechanisms that allow neural circuits to reorganize, maintain function, and support behavior under both normal and pathological conditions. By studying the organization and dynamics of vertebrate neural circuits, we aim to identify the cellular and molecular principles that govern neural plasticity and its functional consequences.

A major focus of our research is to understand how the nervous system contributes to tissue repair and regeneration. In humans, the ability to regenerate damaged organs such as the spinal cord or the heart is extremely limited. In contrast, organisms such as the zebrafish possess a remarkable capacity to regenerate complex tissues after injury. Following damage to the nervous system or the heart, zebrafish can restore structure and function within weeks. Increasing evidence indicates that neurons play an instructive role in regeneration, releasing molecular signals that regulate stem and progenitor cell activity, stimulate cell proliferation, and coordinate tissue repair.

Our goal is to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which neural activity and neuronal signaling guide regenerative processes. By understanding how neuronal circuits promote tissue repair in regenerative species, we aim to uncover principles that may ultimately inform strategies to enhance regeneration in the human nervous system.

To address these questions, we take advantage of the experimental accessibility and powerful regenerative capacity of the adult zebrafish model. Our research integrates a broad range of state-of-the-art approaches, including functional imaging, electrophysiology, molecular neuroscience, genetics, pharmacology, anatomy, and behavior, to dissect neural circuit function and plasticity at multiple levels. This multidisciplinary strategy allows us to identify key neuronal populations, characterize their dynamic responses to injury, and determine how neural circuits influence regeneration and recovery.

Together, our work seeks to advance the fundamental understanding of how nervous systems adapt, reorganize, and regenerate, with the long-term goal of identifying new therapeutic strategies for neurological and organ repair.