Tabrez Siddiqui, MSc, PhD,

Research summary

The human brain is an extraordinary network of trillions of synapses—microscopic junctions that allow neurons to communicate, learn and adapt. Understanding how these synapses form, function and remodel with experience is central to explaining how we think, remember and feel.

Dr. Tabrez J. Siddiqui’s research program seeks to decode the molecular logic of synapse organization and the principles that enable neurons to form precise, enduring and adaptable connections. His laboratory investigates how molecular systems bridging pre- and postsynaptic membranes align neurotransmitter release with receptor activation to ensure efficient, reliable and flexible communication. These trans-synaptic mechanisms are fundamental to the formation and plasticity of neural circuits and are increasingly recognized as key contributors to the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

To address these questions, the Siddiqui Lab combines molecular, cellular, systems and computational approaches, employing biochemical, genetic, proteomic, electrophysiological, imaging, anatomical and behavioural methods to relate molecular interactions to synaptic architecture and function. A central focus is on the nanoscale organization of neurotransmitter receptors within the postsynaptic membrane and how their alignment with presynaptic release sites determines the strength and adaptability of synaptic transmission. This integrative framework has revealed that precise molecular coordination is essential for maintaining synaptic integrity and that its disruption produces the structural and functional abnormalities characteristic of disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Siddiqui group aims to define the principles governing synapse formation and receptor organization, uncover pathway-specific mechanisms of plasticity and determine how genetic alterations in these processes compromise neural circuitry. The long-term goal of this work is to translate molecular insights into strategies that restore synaptic function and cognitive health. Together, these studies connect molecular architecture to circuit behaviour, advancing both fundamental neuroscience and the development of targeted therapies for brain disorders.

Research interests

• Autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental connectivity defects
• Mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity
• Molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and maintenance
• Neurotransmitter receptor organization and signaling efficiency
• Schizophrenia and cortical-thalamic network disorganization

All of these areas reflect a unifying goal: understanding how molecular architecture creates the basis of cognition and how repairing that architecture can restore mental health.

Research affiliations

Principal investigator, PrairieNeuro Research Centre, Kleysen Institute for Avanced Medicine, Health Sciences Centre

Reserch scientist, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM)

The Siddiqui Lab

Our lab operates at the intersection of molecular, cellular and translational neuroscience, linking basic discovery to clinical relevance and providing a vibrant training environment for scientists interested in the molecular foundations of brain function.

Join our research: Graduate students

Applications are welcomed from motivated individuals who have a passion for neuroscience, molecular biology, imaging or electrophysiology and who wish to explore how synaptic molecules shape brain function and behaviour. Trainees join a multidisciplinary team that spans molecular biochemistry, advanced microscopy, synaptic physiology and behavioural neuroscience, creating an environment that encourages conceptual and technical breadth.

Dr. Siddiqui has supervised a distinguished group of trainees whose work has been recognised with awards such as the CIHR-CAN Brain Star Prize, Autism Speaks Predoctoral Fellowship, Larry Jordan Award for Excellence in Neurophysiology and numerous other awards. Alumni now hold positions at leading institutions globally.

Students in the Siddiqui Lab learn to design rigorous experiments, think independently and work collaboratively. The laboratory culture values intellectual curiosity, open communication and inclusion, ensuring that every trainee develops the confidence and skills needed for a successful scientific career.

Support our research

The Siddiqui Lab is committed to uncovering the molecular code that builds and maintains the brain’s synaptic connections, the foundations of learning, memory and emotion. The team’s discoveries demonstrate how subtle changes in synapse architecture can alter cognition and behaviour and offer a path toward new therapies for autism, schizophrenia and related brain disorders.

Private and philanthropic support makes a transformative difference. Contributions enable the acquisition of state-of-the-art imaging and molecular tools, the creation of graduate fellowships and trainee awards, and the pursuit of bold scientific ideas that extend beyond traditional funding limits. Each partnership helps translate molecular insight into advances that improve brain health and human potential. 

Together, we can move closer to a future in which restoring the brain’s connections truly restores lives.