Work in my lab focuses on mechanisms of learning, memory and forgetting. Our work is applicable to understanding both normal and pathological memory in conditions such as aging, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and brain injury.  We approach these broad topics using several techniques. First, we use tissue clearing techniques such as CLARITY, combined with lightsheet microscopy and Graph theory analysis of IEG labeling to examine brain wide patterns of activity and functional connectivity that occur in response to memory retrieval.  Second, we use optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches to modify the development of adult generated neurons. This allows us to examine changes in synaptic plasticity and circuit function that occur because of modified neuronal activity.  Third, we use in vivo imaging approaches such as fiber photometry and miniscopes to monitor activity of neuronal populations in freely behaving mice.  

Daniel completed his B.Sc in Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo and M.Scin Pharmacology at the Université de Montréal and has been working in the field of behavioural neuroscience in both academic and industry research labs since. His research interests in neuroscience are broad spanning from next-gen. psychedelics, motivation, chronic stress, epilepsy and enjoys the challenge of developing pre-clinical models to study these focus areas. His interest in neuroscience led him to join the University of Calgary in April 2024 as lab manager for the Sargin Lab and the Epp Lab to continue supporting neuroscience research. Outside of the lab, Daniel enjoys being outdoors by hiking and exploring parks in the summer and shredding the mountains in the winter.

Dylan is a PhD candidate in the Epp Lab.  His research interests mainly pertain to the dynamic nature of memory storage, particularly the networks of functional connections which underlie memories and how these can be modified by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. 

In 2018, he joined the Epp Lab after graduating from the University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, PE). During his undergraduate degree, he spent considerable time studying animal behavior, which sparked an interest in the neural systems underlying behaviour.  His graduate research in the Epp Lab has allowed me to delve deeper into this interest by applying analyses of correlated brain-wide immediate early gene expression density to visualize changes in task-specific functional networks in response to various factors. 

As someone who was born and raised in PEI, he has had to try to find something other than lounging around on a beach to occupy his time outside of the lab. During this downtime, he can now either be found trying to maintain semblance of a former athlete in a gym or exploring the city and nearby mountains with a camera and a coffee. 

Yi Ren obtained Her Master's Degree in pharmacology and bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from China Pharmaceutical University. During her Master’s, she validated the effect of traditional Chinese medicine on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and explored the effect of a novel compound on Alzheimer’s disease. Her Master’s thesis investigated the role of estrogen receptors in cognitive impairment, neurogenesis, and apoptosis. She started her PhD program in Epp Lab from January 2022 and will explore the impact of adult neurogenesis on neural circuits during learning and memory by using multiple advanced techniques. She is originally from the southwest of China and loves spicy food. Outside of the lab, she enjoys the time with family, cooking, meditation and likes trying new things.

Kabirat Adigun completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She proceeded to obtain her Master’s degree in Veterinary Physiology (majored in Neurophysiology) at the same University. She has worked both as a student and a research assistant in Dr Olamide Adebiyi’s laboratory at the University of Ibadan where she studied the effects of a heavy metal, cadmium and Bisphenol A on depressive and anxiety-like behavior, memory and motor coordination. She worked with Dr. Adebiyi in a study that focused on high environmental temperature and its impacts on behavior and neurodevelopment following gestational and neonatal exposure in Wistar rats. Her PhD research at the Epp Lab will focus on the relationship between early life stress, depression and adult neurogenesis.

Outside of the lab, Kabirat enjoys reading novels, watching sports and catching up with family.

Daniela is completing her MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Calgary. She joined the Epp lab in June 2020 as a BSc Honours student where she looked at the modulation of memory reorganization by adult neurogenesis. Daniela started her MSC in September 2023 and is currently examining interactions between APOE genotype, sex and exercise on brain health.  Outside the lab and classroom, Daniela serves as president of MusicBox Children’s Charity Calgary Chapter to help provide free music education opportunities to children facing social or economic marginalization in the Calgary area. Additionally, Daniela volunteers at the University of Calgary Women’s Resource Centre as co-team lead of the Events and Volunteer Engagement team where she coordinates volunteers and host events and initiatives that promote gender equality, diversity, wellness and community on campus.