James King, PhD, Interim Chair
The Department of Neuroscience (DNS) was formed in 1999 in a reorganization of the basic science departments that created the School of Biomedical Science. The Department has grown from 10 to 20 full-time faculty, with 12 joint/courtesy appointments by faculty in other departments and colleges. Closely aligned with the Center for Molecular Neurobiology and the Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program, the DNS features outstanding research and teaching in the neurosciences. Research in the DNS is focused on understanding how the brain functions and using that knowledge to improve clinical treatment for those who suffer from neurological disease.
Ongoing Research Programs
- Molecular genetic studies of nervous system development
- Preclinical testing of neuroprotective agents and neural transplantation
- Studying a model of spinal muscular atrophy in the zebra fish
- Understanding the basic mechanisms of cytoskeletal transport in axons
- Studying basic cellular signaling mechanisms in the context of synaptic plasticity, aging and epilepsy
- Probing the molecular basis for circadian rhythms in the brain and retina
- Investigating the role of stem/progenitor cells in repair of the spinal cord and retina
- Analyzing basic aspects of membrane channels that control neural activity
Research Accomplishments of 2006
- Two new junior DNS faculty members, James Jontes, PhD, and Chen Gu, PhD, began work in the Center for Molecular Neurobiology with funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
- The spinal cord injury group continued its National Institutes of Health-sponsored research-training program and received excellent reviews. Dana McTigue, PhD, has assumed the role of principal investigator of this internationally recognized program.
- Department faculty have been awarded $7.8 million in extramural funding for 2006 for basic research. Several funded research programs have application to diseases of the nervous system: epilepsy (Karl Obrietan, PhD); spinal muscular atrophy (Christine Beattie, PhD); aging of the brain (C. Glenn Lin, PhD); neuronal regeneration (Andy Fischer, PhD); and multiple sclerosis (Chen Gu, PhD).
