UR Faculty: Robert A. Gross

M.D., Ph.D. (1981) Washington University	Robert A. Gross Director of the Strong Epilepsy Center and Professor of Neurology Primary Appointment: Neurology and Strong Epilepsy Center and Pharmacology and Physiology GEBS Cluster Affiliations: CMM- Cellular and Molecular Basis of Medicine NS - Neuroscience
Research: Molecular Basis of Opioid Signal Transduction; Mechanisms of Excitotoxic Injury; and Efficacy and Tolerability of Anti-Epileptic Drugs
Contact Information: E-Mail: robert_gross@urmc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 711 Rochester, New York 14642	Medical Center 4-7529 Phone: (716) 273-4891 Fax: (716) 273-2652

Research Overview

Basic: The laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which opioid compounds, such as narcotic analgesics, regulate neuronal activity and initiate the process of desensitization. Electrophysiological, pharmacological, anatomical and molecular biological techniques are used. Collaborative studies explore the role of mitochondria in calcium homeostasis in neurons, and in the regulation of excitotoxic injury.

Clinical: Within the Strong Epilepsy Center, ongoing studies include safety and efficacy trials of investigational and new anti-epileptic drugs. Studies in development include the investigation of the epidemiology of seizures in the dementia population and of the tolerability of select anti-epileptic drugs in this patient group.

Recent Publications

Gross, R.A., Huggenvik, J., Massa, E., Allen, R.G. and Uhler, M.D. (1994) Genetic alteration of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunit expression affects calcium currents and b-endorphin release in AtT-20 clonal pituitary cells. Mol. Endocrinol. 8:970-982.

Gross, R.A., Covey, D.F. and Ferrendelli, J.A. (1997) Voltage-dependent calcium channels as targets for convulsant and anticonvulsant alkyl-substituted butyrolactones. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. 280:686-694.

Wiley, J.W., Moises, H., Gross, R.A. and Macdonald, R.L. (1997) Dynorphin A reduces multiple calcium currents via a G_oa-subtype G protein in rat primary afferent neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 77:1338-1348

Greene, J.G., Sheu, S.-S., Gross, R.A. and Greenamyre, J.T. (1998) 3-Nitropropionic acid exacerbates NMDA toxicity in striatal culture by multiple mechanisms. Neuroscience 84:503-510.

Xie, W., Samoriski, G.M., McLaughlin, J.P., Romoser, V.A., Smrcka, A., Hinkle, P.M., Bidlack, J.M., Gross, R.A., Jiang, H. and Wu, D. (1999) Genetic alteration of PLC b3 expression modulates behavioral and cellular responses to m opioids. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 96:10385-10390.

Samoriski, G.M. and Gross, R.A. (2000) Functional compartmentalization of opioid desensitization in primary sensory neurons. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. 294:500-509.

Scott, J.K., Huang, S.-F., Gangadhar, B.P., Samoriski, G.M., Clapp, P., Gross, R.A., Taussig, R. and Smrcka, A.V. (2000) Evidence that a protein-protein interaction 'hot spot' on heterotrimeric G protein bg subunits is used for recognition of a subclass of effectors. EMBO J. 20:767-776.

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GEBS Clusters:

CMM