Neurobiology of Disease

Not only is behavior and cognition being studied at the basic science level but faculty at Utah are considering these issues in relation to aging and in human diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. For instance, the dopaminergic neurons of the basal ganglia have been implicated in the initiation of voluntary movement. Patients with Parkinson's disease show a marked degeneration of these dopamine cells. One research team has developed encapsulated dopamine releasing cells that can be implanted in brain structures that are dopamine deficient. These efforts may eventually ameliorate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Another area of strength at Utah is the study of epilepsy, which ranges from the behavior of specific ion channels to the discovery of new drugs to ameliorate the symptoms of this neurological disease.

Faculty doing research in neurobiological diseases and their departmental affiliation are:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Name

Department

Research Interest

A-C

 To the
Jeffrey Anderson Neuroradiology Neurophysiology of distributed brain networks, brain synchrony, functional connectivity. New fMRI, diffusion tensor, and magnetoencephalography methods for diagnosing and understanding neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, autism, and Alzheimer Disease.
Wolfgang Baehr Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Phototransduction, the Retinoid Cycle, and Inherited Retinal Disease
Steven L. Bealer Pharmacology & Toxicology Investigating the effects of epilepsy on the cardiovascular system and on control of reproductive hormones
Gregory A. Clark Bioengineering Electrophysiological, cellular, and computational analyses of neuronal plasticity in simple systems (Aplysia and Hermissenda); neural information processing; bio-based neuroprostheses  
Donnell J. Creel Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Sensory anomalies associated with hypopigmentation and diagnostic use of electrophysiological tests in patients  

D-F

 To the
Ed Dudek Physiology Mechanisms of neuronal communication under normal developmental conditions and in models of epilepsy using electrophysiological techniques in brain slices as well as in behaving animals
Annette E. Fleckenstein Pharmacology & Toxicology Neuropharmacology, neurochemistry and aminergic transporters
Jeanne Frederick Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Investigating the pathogenesis of mutant protein expression in retina neurons
Sabine Fuhrmann Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Regulation of eye development
Robert S. Fujinami Pathology Neurovirology
Daniel W. Fults Neurosurgery Genetic abnormalities that cause human brain tumors

G-L
Bradley Greger Bioengineering Systems level physiology & Neural prosthetics
Glen R. Hanson Pharmacology & Toxicology Interaction between neuropeptide and biogenic amine transmitter systems in the central nervous system
Randy Jensen Neurosurgery Neuro Oncology. Hypoxia and angiogenesis in brain tumors, Calcium channel antagonist mediated growth inhibition of brain tumors
Kristen A. Keefe Pharmacology & Toxicology Pharmacology of neuropsychiatric disorders
Julie R. Korenberg Pediatrics Neurobiology of human neurodevelopmental disorders, using mouse models and mapping gene expression in primate brain
David Krizaj Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Calcium regulation and synaptic communication in the vertebrate retina
Janet E. Lainhart Psychiatry Neurobiology of autism
Alan R. Light Anesthesiology Neurobiology of pain and fatigue enhancement caused by injury and in Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia syndromes
Gholson J. Lyon Psychiatry Genetics, pathophysiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Tourette Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, autism and mental retardation

M-R

 To the
Suzanne Mansour Human Genetics FGF signaling and ear development
Robert E. Marc Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Retinal Circuitry and Rewiring Induced by Neurodegenerative Disease
J. Michael McIntosh Psychiatry and Biology Molecular Pharmacology of CNS receptors and ion channels
Baldomero M. Olivera Biology Ion channels, membrane receptors and sensory transduction
Stefan-M. Pulst Neurology Inherited diseases of the nervous system with an emphasis on spinocerebellar ataxias and Parkinson's disease
Perry F. Renshaw Psychiatry In vivo neurochemical changes associated with mood and drug abuse disorders; natural products as novel treatments
Scott W. Rogers Neurobiology & Anatomy Molecular biology and neurobiology of ligand-activated receptors

S-T

 To the
Michael C. Sanguinetti Physiology Ionic basis of cardiac excitability; mechanisms of ion channel gating; mechanisms of channel block by drugs
Aloisia Schmid Human Genetics Drosophila in the study of human disease and in drug screens
Kimberly D. Statler Pharmacology & Toxicology Clinical and translational research in traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic epilepsy, and both pathophysiology and management aspects of pediatric neurointensive care
Patrick A. Tresco Bioengineering CNS Response to Implanted Materials

U-Z

 To the
H. Steve White Pharmacology & Toxicology Neuropharmacology; anticonvulsant drug mechanisms; genetics of audiogenic seizures
John A. White Bioengineering Hippocampal neurophysiology, computational neuroscience, real-time instrumentation  
Karen S. Wilcox Pharmacology & Toxicology Electrophysiological mechanisms of action of novel anticonvulsant drugs
Jun Yang Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Pathogenetic mechanisms of retinal degeneration and cell biology of photoreceptors
Deborah Yurgelun-Todd Psychiatry Application of MR imaging methods to understand emotional processing and cognitive changes associated with behavioral disorders
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Neuroscience Home Page Contact us Search