Neuronal Physiology and Disease

Normal brain development and function depends on complex mechanisms that regulate the survival and function of neurons and glial cells. When these mechanisms are perturbed, the resulting neuronal dysfunction and cell death can lead to numerous diseases and disorders including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Opioid receptors, the proteins that bind morphine and heroin, mediate many important neuronal functions, including pain and mood. Alterations of these functions underlie the narcotic addiction process. Likewise, nicotine and other drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, are addictive drugs. Ongoing studies are directed at understanding the mechanisms involved in drug addiction, and in medications development to treat addiction and to minimize the development of drug dependence in patients being treated with an addicting drug. 

Bidlack, Jean M.
Pharmacology of brain and lymphocytic opioid receptors.

Bowers, William J.
Dissecting the dynamic interplay between inflammation and Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology using novel transgenic modeling and immunotherapeutic approaches.

Dickerson, Ian
Molecular mechanisms of neuropeptide signal transduction.

Freeman, Robert S.
Molecular mechanisms of neuronal death.

Gross, Robert A.
Cellular mechanisms of opioid desensitization and tolerance; mechanisms underlying altered Ca homeostasis in excitotoxic injury; role of growth factors in regulating excitability in epilepsy models.

Haber, Suzanne N.
Integrative functions of the basal ganglia and its relationship to neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Johnson, Gail V.W.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration; the regulation and function of transglutaminase 2; tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease; the role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.

Kammermeier, Paul J.
G protein coupled receptor signaling and modulation of ion channels in neurons.

Mayer-Proschel, Margot
Our central goal is to understand the biological and molecular mechanisms governing precursor cell division, differentiation, and survival in the brain.

Noble, Mark
Stem cell biology, regeneration in the central nervous system, redox modulation of precursor cell function, developmental disorders, brain tumor biology and adverse effects of chemotherapy of neural stem cell populations.

Rempe, David A.
The goal of our laboratory is to define the adaptive and pathological responses of the brain during hypoxia/ischemia that alter neuronal viability and function.

Tank, A. William
Regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression.

Neuronal Physiology and Disease