POSITION
PhD Candidate
CREDENTIALS
BSc Anatomy and Cell Biology (McGill University, Québec)
Keywords: Prenatal Ethanol Exposure (PNEE), Choline, Synaptic Plasticity, Development, Teratogens, Long-term Potentiation, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Contact: egrafe@uvic.ca
Current Funding: CIHR – Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (2019), NSERC-CGS-D
Publications:
- Postnatal Choline Supplementation Rescues Deficits in Synaptic Plasticity Following Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. EL Gräfe, MMM Wade, CE Hodson, JD Thomas, BR Christie (2022) Nutrients.
- Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on choline-induced long-term depression in the hippocampus EL Gräfe,CJ Fontaine, JD Thomas, BR Christie (2021) Journal of Neurophysiology
- Endocannabinoid receptors contribute significantly to multiple forms of long-term depression in the rat dentate gyrus CJ Fontaine, EL Gräfe, C Pinar, I Bonilla-Del Río, P Grandes, BR Christie (2020) Learning & Memory
MY RESEARCH INTERESTS
My doctoral work will investigate the effects of a novel treatment, postnatal choline supplementation, on learning and memory outcomes following prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE). Due to the complex social and emotional relationships with alcohol, complete prevention of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, while ideal, is not always possible. Therefore, it is essential to develop new approaches which can be implemented after the prenatal period, such as during school years when a diagnosis of FASD is likely to occur. Choline is an essential nutrient which is being investigated as a treatment. However, it is still not understood how choline supplementation may alter synaptic transmission or cause improvements in learning and memory. My research will provide critical information on the efficacy of postnatal choline supplementation as a treatment for FASD, and further uncover the mechanism of action of PNEE on synaptic plasticity.
Social Media
Hobbies: yoga, wandering around art galleries, watching Lord of the Rings & reading
A fun fact about me: I bungy jumped in New Zealand at the World home of Bungy!