Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology
 | Carlos Aizenman Associate Professor of Neuroscience The long-term goal of my research is to understand the role of sensory experience in shaping the connectivity and functional properties of developing neural circuits, as well as it's implications for neurodevelopmental disorders. We focus on the visual system of Xenopus laevis tadpoles; a preparation amenable to a variety of experimental approaches, ranging from molecular biology, single-cell electrophysiology, live cell imaging, computational modeling, and behavior. Read More |
 | Gilad Barnea Robert and Nancy Carney Our laboratory studies how the mammalian brain processes olfactory information and translates it into behavioral outputs. We are developing a new method for transsynaptic labeling of neural circuits combining molecular biology and mouse genetics. This method will enable us to map and characterize the neural circuits that the brain uses to process olfactory information. We also study the role of odorant receptors in the wiring of olfactory circuits. Finally, we are developing a molecular method to selectively record the activation Read More |
 | David Berson Professor of Medical Science My lab studies what the eye tells the brain. We explore the structure and function of ganglion cells, the retinal neurons that communicate directly with the brain. There are more than a dozen types of ganglion cells. Each has anatomical and physiological features matched to the requirements of specific visual behaviors. We recently discovered a bizarre new type that is a true photoreceptor, responding directly to light like a rod or cone. These cells synchronize the Read More |
 | Wayne Bowen Dept. Chair, Professor of Biology, Upjohn Professor of Pharmacology We study sigma receptors, proteins found throughout the body. They bind several classes of psychoactive drugs. Activation of sigma-2 receptors causes programmed cell death (apoptosis). We are trying to understand the underlying mechanisms for this. Because they are highly expressed in cancer cells, we are targeting sigma-2 receptors for development of new antineoplastic agents. Also, antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol damage neurons via sigma-2 receptors. Blocking sigma-2 receptors might prevent the irreversible motor side Read More |
 | Barry Connors Professor and Chair I study the cellular physiology of the mammalian brain. Most of my work centers on the neocortex, which is responsible for thinking, remembering, processing sensory information, and controlling movement. The neocortex is a vast network of interconnected neurons. My research group studies the properties of these neurons, their synaptic connections, and the characteristics of cortical networks. We are also interested in the mechanisms of epileptic seizures. Read More |
 | William Fairbrother Associate Professor of Biology My lab studies RNA splicing. A third of all hereditary disease mutations affect RNA splicing. Using deep sequencing and array based synthesis, we are measuring the effects of thousands of mutations and SNPs on splicing, spliceosome assembly and RNA protein binding. In the lab there is a strong emphasis on developing hybrid approaches to science, combining genome analysis and computational biology with experimentation. Read More |
 | Justin Fallon Professor of Medical Science Our lab has two major interests. Duchenne muscular dystrophy strikes one in 3,000 boys. We are currently working to translate our basic science findings into a novel treatment for Duchenne's patients. Second, how do we learn, and why are we so good at it when we are young? Using Fragile X mental retardation as a model, we seek to understand how ephemeral episodes of experience are transformed into stable changes in synaptic architecture and efficacy. Read More |
 | Nicolas Fawzi Assistant Professor of Medical Science My laboratory studies the structure, dynamics, and molecular interactions of protein aggregates implicated in neurodegenerative disease. Using a combination of novel NMR spectroscopy approaches and atomistic simulation supplemented by biophysical and imaging methods, we determine high-resolution structures of these species and their toxic interactions with other macromolecules and membranes, as well as their interactions with potential therapeutic agents. Read More |
 | Anne Hart Professor of Biology Anne Hart is a neurobiologist who uses genetic and molecular approaches in the small nematode C. elegans to understand the conserved mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease and nervous system function. She focuses on delineating cellular and molecular pathways pertinent to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Dr. Hart also studies how animals respond to sensory stimuli, adapt to environmental stress, and mechanisms of aging. Read More |
 | Edward Hawrot Alva O. Way University Professor of Medical Science We pursue biochemical and pharmacological studies aimed at understanding the fundamental structure-function relationship of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We also study the molecular basis for the highly specific recognition of muscle-type nAChRs by certain snake venom-derived toxins classified as alpha-neurotoxins. More recently, we have used homologous recombination techniques to construct a knock-in mouse in which the alpha3 gene encoding one subtype of neuronal nAChRs has been minimally mutated to impart pharmacological sensitivity to the classic nicotinic antagonist, alpha-bungarotoxin. These Read More |
 | Diane Hoffman-Kim Associate Professor The goal of the Hoffman-Kim laboratory is to understand axon guidance in complex environments and inform biomaterial and tissue engineering strategies for promoting nerve regeneration. We apply engineering techniques to biological systems in vitro to challenge growing neurons with multiple guidance cues, including diffusible factors, substrate-bound molecules, electrical cues, and topographical surface features. Read More |
 | Julie Kauer Professor My laboratory focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms involved in synaptic plasticity and modulation of neuronal excitability using modern electrophysiological techniques in brain slices. Our work is related to understanding fundamental processes in memory, in drug addiction and in chronic pain. Read More |
 | Diane Lipscombe Professor of Neuroscience We are interested in the cellular mechanisms used to optimize calcium ion channel function. Calcium ion channels regulate many critical neuronal functions including transmitter release, nerve growth, and synaptic plasticity. Our current research focus is on cell-specific alternative splicing in the mammalian nervous system. We study cellular mechanisms that control calcium channel function in normal as well as in disease states, including chronic pain and mental illness. Read More |
 | John Marshall Professor In response to hormonal or synaptic stimulation, excitable cells (including smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and neurons) undergo a diversity of changes in their electrical properties. My lab is studying the trafficking and localization of glutamate receptors and calcium channels to synapses, and their modulation by protein kinases. Read More |
 | Eric Morrow Assistant Professor in Biology and Psychiatry & Human Behavior The Morrow lab investigates the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying disorders of cognitive development, such as intellectual disability and autism. The long-term aim of this research is to establish a basic foundation for improved genetic diagnosis and treatment interventions designed to enhance cognitive and functional gains for patients. Because these disorders are highly genetic and in order to identify core molecular mechanisms, genome-wide "forward genetic" strategies to identify genetic mutations have been a principal focus. In complement Read More |
 | Elena Oancea Assistant Professor of Medical Science The focus of my laboratory is in understanding signal transduction events using fluorescent microscopy in living cells. My lab is equipped with a state-of-the-art two-color TIRF microscope, which we will use to study UV-induced pigmentation in human skin and melanoma behavior. To visualize signal transduction events, we design and generate novel fluorescent probes using molecular biology techniques, which give us a unique angle in answering biologically relevant questions. Read More |
 | Robert Reenan Professor of Biology We are interested in evolution of brain function and behavior. Our primary model system is Drosophila, the fruit fly, for its powerful traditional and molecular genetics. Our main question is—how do genomes encode and regulate proteins involved in rapid electrical and chemical signaling in the brain, normally and in disease? Surprisingly, this has led us into studies of RNA editing, comparative genomics, small non-coding RNA, heterochromatin, evolution of RNA structure, and inherited neurological disorders. Read More |
 | Mark Zervas Assistant Professor of Biology Allocating specialized types of neurons and establishing their functional connections requires cell fate programming, differentiation, and neural circuit formation. We interrogate these coordinated mechanisms in midbrain dopamine neurons and thalamus relay neurons. We study these cells because they control movement and cognition, and are affected in Parkinson's disease, autism, and epilepsy. We also use knowledge of development to advance stem cell and pharmacological therapies in brain disease. Read More |
 | Anita L. Zimmerman Professor and Vice Chair Our research is in molecular and cellular aspects of the nervous system, with an emphasis on ion channels and phototransduction in the eye and skin. Ion channels are membrane proteins that are critically involved in functions as diverse as the beating of the heart, visual perception, learning and memory, and hormone secretion. They are also targets for many drugs, and genetic defects in ion channels can cause devastating diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Read More |