CONTACT INFORMATIONBIOGRAPHYCREDENTIALSAWARDSPATENTSPUBLICATIONSIan M. Dickerson, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 273-1040Research LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 603Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsAssociate Professor - Department of Neuroscience (SMD) Associate Professor - Department of Pharmacology and Physiology (SMD) - JointBiographyProfessional BackgroundEDUCATION: Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 1980 BA Biology Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 1985 PhD Molecular Biology The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 1989 Post Doc Neuroscience POSITIONS: 1989-1997: Assistant Professor, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics 1997-2003: Assoc. Professor, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics 1990-2003: Faculty Member, Neuroscience Program, University of Miami School of Medicine 1991-2003: Secondary Appointment, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine 2000-2003: Member, University of Miami School of Medicine Cancer Center, Tumor Cell Biology Program 2003-present: Associate Professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy 2003-present: Secondary Appointment, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology HONORS: 1987-1989 NIH NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Award 1994-1995 Stanley Glaser Research Award, University of Miami School of Medicine 1996 UM Dean's Award for Excellence in Research and Creativity; Outstanding Graduate MentorResearchSignal Transduction at Neuropeptide Receptors: Our laboratory studies the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Originally discovered as an alternatively-spliced variant of the calcitonin mRNA, CGRP is one of the most potent vasodilators known. As a vasodilator, CGRP has both peripheral and central effects. One of the most notable effects of CGRP is its causative effect of migraine on the cerebral vasculature, and stable synthetic antagonists have been recently developed and are in Stage III clinical trials for migraine treatment. CGRP also suppresses immune function, is involved in pain perception, and has further central role in the development of tolerance to opiates. Recently, we have discovered that CGRP is a potent stimulator of glioma and metastatic breast cancer tumor cell growth. In collaboration with Dr. Edward Brown (Biomedical Engineering) we have observed remarkable increases in tumor cell growth rates in response to CGRP incubation. These data suggest that the CGRP receptor system represents an important new target for these types of cancer for which therapy is currently limited. The CGRP receptor is unique for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) in that it requires three proteins for function: calcitonin-like receptor (CLR), a stereotypical GPCR with 7 hydrophobic transmembrane domains; receptor activity modifying protein (RAMP1), a single transmembrane accessory protein that targets CLR to the cell surface and confers pharmacologic specificity, and CGRP receptor component protein (RCP) which couples the CLR/RAMP1 complex to the cellular signaling pathway. Our laboratory is investigating the mechanism of RCP action by: (1) determining the molecular/ biochemical requirements for RCP function, (2) determining the proteins that interact with RCP in a functional receptor complex using proteomic strategies, (3) determining the role of RCP and CGRP in vivo, using targeted homologous recombination to generate transgenic RCP knockout mice. In addition, we are applying the biochemical reagents made in the first three areas of interest to directly test the role of the CGRP receptor in glioma and breast cancer proliferation, with the long-term goal of identifying novel protein interactions required for CGRP receptor function as targets for future anti-cancer drug development.CredentialsEducation1980BA | Humboldt State UnivBiology1985PhD | Purdue UniversityMolecular BiologyPost-doctoral Training & Residency08/1985 - 09/1989The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceAwards1996Dean's Award for Excellence in Research and Creativity; Outstanding Graduate MentorLocation: University of Miami1994Stanley Glaser Research AwardSponsor: University of Miami1987 - 1989NIH NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Award1983 - 1985David Ross Graduate Research FellowshipSponsor: Purdue UniversityVIEW ALL expand_morePatentsPatent Title: Methods of Treating Cancer Using The Calcitonin-Gene Related Peptide ("CGRP") Receptor Antagonist CGRP8-37 Patent #: 8,394,767 Issue Date: Mar 12, 2013 Country: United States Invented By: Edward Brown III, Ian DickersonPatent Title: Delivery of Biomolecules into Cells Through Carbon Nanotube Arrays Patent #: 11,142,776 Issue Date: Oct 12, 2021 Country: United States Invented By: Ian Dickerson, Masoud Golshadi, Michael G SchrlauPublicationsJournal Articles2023McQuaid C, Solorzano A, Dickerson I, Deane R. "Uptake of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein mediated by angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and ganglioside in human cerebrovascular cells." Frontiers in neuroscience.. 2023 17:1117845. Epub 2023 Feb 16. 10/24/2022Wee NK, Novak S, Ghosh D, Root SH, Dickerson IM, Kalajzic I. "Inhibition of CGRP signaling impairs fracture healing in mice." Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.. 2022 Oct 24; Epub 2022 Oct 24. 6/14/2022Brouxhon SM, O'Banion MK, Dickerson IM, Kyrkanides S. "Calcitonin gene-related peptide: An intra-articular therapeutic target for TMJ disorders." Clinical and experimental dental research.. 2022 Jun 14; Epub 2022 Jun 14. Books & Chapters2010 Chapter Title: "The CGRP Receptor Component Protein: A Regulator for CLR Signaling" Book Title: The Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Family: Form, Function & Future Perspective Author List: Dickerson, I.M. Edited By: D.L. Hay and I.M. Dickerson Published By: Springer Science 2010 in New York2009 Chapter Title: "The CGRP Receptor Component Protein (RCP): A Regulator for CLR Signaling", Book Title: The Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Family; Form, Function And Future Perspective Author List: Dickerson, I.M. Edited By: I.M. Dickerson and D.L. Hay Published By: Springer 20092006 Chapter Title: "CGRP: A Multifunctional Neuropeptide" Book Title: Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology Author List: Russo, A.F.; Dickerson, I.M. Edited By: R. Lim Published By: Kluwer Academic/Plenum 2006VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Ian M. Dickerson, Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. 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