Assistant Professor of Neurology
The Brennan Lab
Neurobiology of Disease
e-mail: k.c.brennan@hsc.utah.edu
B.A. 1993, Georgetown University; M.D. 2001, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons;
Internship 2001-2001, George Washington University Medical Center; Residency 2002-2005
UCLA; Postdoc 2005-2008 UCLA.
RESEARCH:
Optical and electrophysiological investigation of the basic mechanisms of migraine
Dr. Brennan's laboratory studies derangements of brain excitability. A particular interest is cortical spreading depression (CSD), a wave of runaway excitation that is thought to be the basis of the migraine aura. CSD is also involved in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and epilepsy.
The lab uses a combination of techniques including optical intrinsic signal imaging and spectroscopy, voltage sensitive dye imaging, two-photon microscopy, and electrophysiology to study CSD and the disorders it affects.