Adrienne Antonson, an assistant professor of animal sciences, has joined the Beckman faculty.

Antonson's research is anchored within the fields of immunology, microbiology, and developmental and behavioral neuroscience. She uses translational animal models to investigate inflammatory and neurodevelopmental origins of behavioral abnormalities and mental health disorders. Focusing on the prenatal period as a critical developmental window, she has demonstrated that maternal insults such as viral infection and psychological stress during pregnancy alter neuroimmune signatures in the offspring brain, leading to disrupted behaviors.

At the Beckman Institute, Antonson collaborates with Benjamin Auerbach, Catherine Best-Popescu, Jonathan Sweedler, Kari Foss, and Pengfei Song on projects and proposals related to etiologies and behavioral correlates of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism); tracing maternally derived molecules across the placenta during pregnancy; stereotactic neurosurgery on pigs; and neuroimaging of pigs and mice.

"The Beckman Institute is home to an impressive community of experts across a multitude of complimentary disciplines. I am excited and honored to join this community of talented scientists. Affiliating with Beckman opens the door to new collaborations that will no doubt foster innovative projects to push the boundaries of developmental neuroimmunology research," she said. "Yoga on Wednesdays is also a great perk!"