Neuroscience Faculty, Mentors

Neuroscience Faculty

Faculty - Mentors

Faculty - Teaching and Support

Faculty: Update/Include Your Profile

Neuroscience Faculty - Mentors

Simon T. Alford , Ph.D.
Professor, Biological Sciences; Co-Director, Neuroscience Program

sta@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cellular/Molecular
We are principally interested in mechanisms of short-term synaptic plasticity and the impact of that plasticity on function in the nervous system.

Selected references

Yoon, E-J, Gerachshenko T, Spiegelberg BD, Alford S, & Hamm HE. Gbg regulates exocytosis by interfering with Ca2+-dependent binding of synaptotagmin to the SNARE complex. Molecular Pharmacology, 2007 Nov;72(5):1210-9.
Schwartz EJ, Blackmer T, Gerachshenko T, Alford S. Presynaptic G-protein-coupled receptors regulate synaptic cleft glutamate via transient vesicle fusion. J Neurosci. 2007 May 30;27(22):5857-68.
Photowala H, Blackmer T, Schwartz E, Hamm HE, Alford S. G protein bg-subunits activated by serotonin mediate presynaptic inhibition by regulating vesicle fusion properties. Proc. National Academy of Sciences USA , 2006;103:4281-4286.

Noam Alperin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Radiology, Bioengineering

alperin@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Disease/Therapeutics
Normal brain function requires regulation of physiologic parameters such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), perfusion and intracranial pressure (ICP). In many neurological problems this regulation is disrupted. Our NIH funded multi disciplinary research focuses on development of imaging-based methods to quantify the intracranial physiology, noninvasively, by MRI.

Selected references

Alperin N, Lichtor T, Mazda M, Lee SH. From Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulsation to Noninvasive Intracranial Compliance and Pressure Measured by MRI Flow Studies. Current Medical Imaging Reviews, Current Medical Imaging Reviews, 2006(2); 117-129.
Alperin N, Lee S, Sivaramakrishnan A, Hushek S. Quantifying the Effect of Posture on Intracranial Physiology in Humans by MRI Flow Studies. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2005 Nov;22(5):591-596.
Alperin N, Lee SH, Loth F, Raksin P, Lichtor T. MR-Intracranial Pressure (ICP): A method for noninvasive measurement of intracranial pressure and elastance. Baboon and Human Study. Radiology. 2000; 217(3); 877885.

Alexander Aruin, Ph.D., DSc.
Professor, Physical Therapy, Bioengineering

aaruin@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics
Motor disorders and rehabilitation, biomechanics, and motor control; developing new technologies for training healthy people and for providing physical therapy and rehabilitation to injured and disabled individuals.

Selected references

Li X, Aruin, A. Anticipatory postural adjustments in conditions of simulated reduced gravity. Gait & Posture, 2008 May 12 [Epub ahead of print]
Santos M, Aruin A. Role of lateral muscles and body orientation in feedforward postural control. Experimental Brain Research, 2008 Feb; 184(4):547-59.
Iyengar V, Santos M, Aruin A. Does the location of the touch from the contralateral finger application affect grip force control while lifting an object? Neuroscience Letters, 2007, 425(3):151-155.

Ernesto R. Bongarzone, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

ebongarz@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
Molecular and Cellular mechanisms of degeneration and regeneration in Multiple Sclerosis, Leukodystrohies and demyelination in ageing.

Selected references

Galbiati F, Basso V, Cantuti L, Givogri MI, Lopez-Rosas A, Perez N, Vasu C, Cao H, van Breemen R, Mondino A, Bongarzone ER. Autonomic denervation of lymphoid organs leads to epigenetic immune atrophy in a mouse model of Krabbe disease. Neurosci. 2007;27(50):13730-8.
Givogri MI, Galbiati F, Fasano S, Amadio S, Perani L, Superchi D, Morana P, Del Carro U, Marchesini S, Brambilla R, Wrabetz L, Bongarzone E. Oligodendroglial progenitor cell therapy limits central neurological deficits in mice with metachromatic leukodystrophy. J Neurosci. 2006;26(12):3109-19.
Felling RJ, Snyder MJ, Romanko MJ, Rothstein RP, Ziegler AN, Yang Z, Givogri MI, Bongarzone ER, Levison SW. Neural stem/progenitor cells participate in the regenerative response to perinatal hypoxia/ischemia. J Neurosci. 2006;26(16):4359-69.

Scott T. Brady, Ph.D.
Professor & Head, Anatomy & Cell Biology

sbrady@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Molecular Motors and Mechanisms of Axonal Transport; Neuronal Cytoskeleton; Glial Modulation of Neurons; Effects of Physiological Stress on neurons; Neurodegeneration.

Selected references

Morfini, G., Pigino, G., Szebenyi, G., You, Y., Pollema, S., and Brady, S. T. JNK Mediates Pathogenic Effects of Polyglutamine-expanded Androgen Receptor on Fast Axonal Transport. Nature Neurosci, 2006; 9: 907-916.
Lazarov, O., Morfini, G. A., Pigino, G., Gadadhar, A., Chen, X., Robinson, J., Ho, H., Brady, S. T., and Sisodia, S. S. Impairments in fast axonal transport and motor neuron deficits in transgenic mice expressing familial Alzheimer's disease-linked mutant presenilin 1. J Neurosci., 2007;27:7011-7020.
Morfini, G., Pigino, G., Opalach, K., Serulle, Y., Moreira, J. E., Sugimori, M., Llinas, R. R., and Brady, S. T. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium affects fast axonal transport by activation of caspase and protein kinase C. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2007; 104:2442-2447.

Mark S. Brodie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Physiology & Biophysics

mbrodie@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Integrative Systems
Interactions of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.

Selected references

McDaid, J., McElvain, M.A., Appel, S.B. and Brodie, M.S.. Ethanol effects on dopaminergic ventral tegmental area neurons from mice and rats in the presence of blockers of Ih: Possible involvement of G-protein-linked inwardly rectifying potassium currents. J. Neurophysiology, (Epub ahead of print, July 9).
Koyama S., Brodie M.S. and Appel S.B., Ethanol inhibition of M-current and ethanol-induced direct excitation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. J. Neurophysiology, 2007;97: 1977-1985.
Appel, S.B., Wise, L., McDaid, J., Koyama, S., McElvain, M.A., Brodie, M.S., The effects of long chain length n-alcohols on the firing frequency of dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area. J. Pharmacol. and Experimental Therapeutics, 2006;318: 1137-1145.

C. Sue Carter, Ph.D.
Professor & Co-Director, Brain-Body Center,

scarter@psych.uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cellular/Molecular
Dr. Carter’s research program is a translational and multidisciplinary approach to understanding the neuroendocrinology of mammalian social behavior. This work is done in the context of evolution, with implications for mental illnesses such as autism, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression. Emphasis is on developmental mechanisms through which hormones regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and protect against stress. Dr. Carter's laboratory specifically examines the behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences of hormones, including oxytocin, vasopressin and estrogen across the life span. Species under investigation include humans, other primates and other socially monogamous mammals such as prairie voles. Among the specific methodologies in use are behavioral measures, endocrine assays for steroids and peptides, methods for describing functional neural circuitry including c-Fos and ICC for peptides and neurotransmitters, and methods for using heart rate and other autonomic measures to assess emotional and behavioral states in freely moving animals.

Selected references

Carter CS. Sex differences in oxytocin and vasopressin: implications for autism spectrum disorders? Behav Brain Res. 2007 Jan 10;176(1):170-86.
Grippo AJ, Gerena D, Huang J, Kumar N, Shah M, Ughreja R, Carter CS. Social isolation induces behavioral and neuroendocrine disturbances relevant to depression in female and male prairie voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007 Sep-Nov;32(8-10):966-80.
Carter CS, Grippo AJ, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Ruscio MG, Porges SW. Oxytocin, vasopressin and sociality. Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:331-6.

Neelima Chauhan, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

nchauhan@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cognition/Learning
Preventing and reversing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis and promoting repair of degenerated neurons in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) by testing candidate therapies on pre-clinical basis, including intracerebroventricular passive immunization, antisense strategies, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, statins, lithium, and aged garlic extract.

Selected references

Chauhan NB, Sandoval J. Amelioration of early cognitive deficits by aged garlic extract in Alzheimer's transgenic mice. Phytother Res. 2007 Jul;21(7):629-40.
Chauhan NB, Siegel GJ. Antisense inhibition at the beta-secretase-site of beta-amyloid precursor protein reduces cerebral amyloid and acetyl cholinesterase activity in Tg2576. Neuroscience. 2007 Apr 25;146(1):143-51.
Chauhan NB. Intracerebroventricular passive immunization with anti-oligoAbeta antibody in TgCRND8 J Neurosci Res. 2007 Feb 1;85(2):451-63.

Daniel M. Corcos, Ph.D.
Professor, Kinesiology & Nutrition, Bioengineering, Physical Therapy, Neurology (Rush Medical Center)

dcorcos@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Disease/Therapeutics
My laboratory investigates the neural control of limb and eye movement in health and disease using kinematic, kinetic, myoelectric, fMRI. and deep brain stimulation techniques.

Selected references

Shemmell J, Hasan Z, Gottlieb GL, Corcos DM. The effect of movement direction on joint torque covariation. Experimental Brain Research 2007 Jan; 176(1): 150-8.
Sturman MM, Vaillancourt DE, Metman LV, Sierens DK, Bakay RA, Corcos DM. Deep brain stimulation and medication for parkinsonian tremor during secondary tasks. Movement Disorders 2007 Jul; 22(8):1157-1163.
Vaillancourt DE, Yu H, Mayka MA, Corcos DM. Role of the basal ganglia and frontal cortex in selecting and producing internally guided force pulses. Neuroimage 2007 July 1; 36(3):793-803.

Yogesh Dwivedi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Pharmacology

ydwivedi@psych.uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of affective disorders and suicide.

Selected references

Dwivedi y. et al. Lower phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity and differential expression levels of selective catalytic and regulatory PI 3-kinase subunit isoforms in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of suicide subjects. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Sep;33(10):2324-40.
Dwivedi Y. et al. Differential and brain region-specific regulation of Rap-1 and Epac in depressed suicide victims. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;63(6):639-48.
Dwivedi y. et al. ERK MAP kinase signaling in post-mortem brain of suicide subjects: differential regulation of upstream Raf kinases Raf-1 and B-Raf.Mol Psychiatry. 2006 Jan;11(1):86-98.

Christopher G. Engeland, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Periodontics

engeland@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
Effects of stress, age, gender and hormones (e.g., corticosteroids) on inflammation, wound healing, bacterial infection. Biomarkers as predictors of breast cancer, mucositis and preterm birth. Proteomics/genomics.

Selected references

Engeland CG, Bosch JA, Cacioppo JT and Marucha PT. Mucosal wound healing: The roles of age and gender. Archives of Surgery. 2006; 141(12): 1193-1197; discussion 1198.
Bosch JA, Engeland CG, Cacioppo JT and Marucha PT. Depressive symptoms predict mucosal wound healing. Psychosomatic Med. 2007; 69(7): 597-605.
Engeland CG, Kavaliers M and Ossenkopp K-P. Influence of the estrous cycle on tolerance development to LPS-induced sickness behaviors in rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006; 31(4): 510-525.

David E. Featherstone, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

def@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Integrative Systems
Molecular mechanisms of glutamate receptor expression and localization.

Selected references

Yael Grosjean, Micheline Grillet, Hrvoje Augustin, Jean-François Ferveur, and David E. Featherstone, A glial amino acid transporter controls synapse strength and courtship in Drosphila. Nature Neurosci 2008, 11(1):54-61.
Hrvoje Augustin/Yael Grosjean (joint first authors), aiyun Chen, Qi Sheng, and David E. Featherstone. Nonvesicular release of glutamate by glial xCT transporters suppresses and glutamate receptor clustering in vivo. J Neurosci 2007, 27:111-123.
K. Chen, C. Merino, S.J. Sigrist, and D.E. Featherstone, The 4.1 Protein Coracle Mediates Subunit-selective Anchoring of Drosophila Glutamate Receptors to the Postsynaptic Actin Cytoskelton. J Neurosci 2005, 25(28):6667-6675.

Douglas Feinstein, Ph.D.
Professor, Anethesiology, Anatomy & Cell Biology

dfeins@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
Characterization and regulation of glial inflammatory responses (cytokines, nitric oxide, glutamate release) in animal models of AD and MS, including studies aimed to modify maturation of adult progenitor cells towards oligodendrocyte committment.

Selected references

Anthony J Sharp, Paul E Polak, Vittoria Simonini, Shao X Lin, Jill C Richardson, Ernesto R Bongarzone and Douglas L Feinstein. P2x7 deficiency suppresses development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J. Neuroinflammation 2008, 5:33doi:10.1186/1742-2094-5-33.
Madrigal JL, Kalinin S, Richardson JC, Feinstein DL. Neuroprotective actions of noradrenaline: effects on glutathione synthesis and activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta. J Neurochem. 2007 Dec;103(5):2092-101.
Kalinin S, Gavrilyuk V, Polak PE, Vasser R, Zhao J, Heneka MT, Feinstein DL. Noradrenaline deficiency in brain increases beta-amyloid plaque burden in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2007 Aug;28(8):1206-14.

Liang-Wei Gong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

lwgong@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Cognition/Learning
I am interested to understand mechanisms for neurotransmitter release, vesicle fusion and vesicle recycling using electrophysiological, cell biological and genetic tools.

Selected references

Gong LW, Alvarez de Toledo G, Lindau M. Exocytotic catecholamine release is not associated with cation flux through channels in the vesicle membrane but Na+ influx through the fusion pore. Nat Cell Biol 2007; 9(8):915-922.
Gong LW, Di Paolo G, Diaz E, Cestra G, Diaz ME, Lindau M, De Camilli P, Toomre D. Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type I gamma regulates dynamics of large dense-core vesicle fusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005; 102(14):5204-9.
Gong LW, Hafetz I, Alvarez de Toledo G, and Lindau M. Secretory vesicles membrane area is regulated in tandem with quantal size in chromaffin cells. J Neurosci 2003; 23: 7917-7921.

Dennis Grayson, Ph.D.
Professor of Molecular Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics

dgrayson@psych.uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
My lab is interested in epigenetic mechanisms that impact cognition. We study selected genes expressed in inhibitory neurons of the frontal cortex that are involved in modulating sensory input and higher order brain function. These neurons express numerous genes that are regulated through changes in DNA methylation. In some schizophrenia patients, these same neurons over express the enzyme DNA methyltransferase 1. We are interested in understanding how methylation is regulated in post-mitotic cells.

Selected references

Chen Y, Kundakovic M, Agis-Balboa RC, Pinna G, Grayson DR. Induction of the reelin promoter by retinoic acid is mediated by Sp1. J Neurochem. 2007;103:650-665.
Kundakovic M, Chen Y, Costa E, Grayson DR. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors coordinately induce expression of the human reelin and GAD67 genes. Mol Pharmacol. 2006;71: 644-653.
Kundakovic M, Chen Y, guidotti A, Grayson DR. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors activate the reelin and GAD67 promoters through converging mechanisms. (2008) Manuscript in review.

Alessandro Guidotti, M .D.
Professor of Biochemistry, Psychiatry

aguidotti@psych.uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
Epigenetic mechanisms in schizophrenia. Neurosteroids and depression. Second generation benzodiazepine pharmacology.

Selected references

Costa E, Dong E, Grayson DR, Guidotti A, Ruzicka WB, Veldic M. Reviewing the role of DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase overexpression in the cortical GABAergic dysfunction associated with psychosis vulnerability. Epigenetics, 2007; 2:29-36.
Pibiri F, Nelson M, Guidotti A, Costa E, Pinna G. Downregulation of allopregnanolone brain expression during social isolation enhances contextual fear: a model relevant for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PNAS, 2008; 105, 5567-5572..
Dong E, Nelson M, Grayson DR, Costa E, Guidotti A. Clozapine and sulpiride but not haloperidol or olanzapine activate nuclear DNA-demethylation in the brain. PNAS, 2008; September.

Ziaul Hasan, Ph.D.
Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition

zhasan@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cognition/Learning
Neural control and biomechanics of multijoint movements; kinematic redundancy; role of proprioceptors in motor control, arm movement in spinal cord injury.

Selected references

Lee D, Corcos DM, Shemmell J, Leurgans S, Hasan Z. Resolving kinematic redundancy in target-reaching movements with and without external constraint. Experimental Brain Research (Accepted July, 2008).
Hasan Z. The human motor-control system's response to mechanical perturbation: should it, can it, and does it ensure stability? Journal of Motor Behavior 2005, 37: 484-493.
Thomas JS, Corcos DM, Hasan Z. Kinematic and kinetic constraints on arm, trunk, and leg segments in target-reaching movements. Journal of Neurophysiology 2005, 93: 352-364.

John R. Hetling, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

JHetli1@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Neural engineering, electrophysiology; emphasis on visual and olfactory systems. New approaches and technology for diagnosing and treating retinal disease.

Selected references

Hetling JR, Baig-Silva MS, Comer CM, Pardue MT, Samaan DY, Qtaishat NM, Pepperberg DR, Park TJ. Features of visual function in the naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber. J Comp Physiol A 2005; 191:317-330.
Baig Silva MS, Hathcock CD & Hetling JR. A preparation for studying electrical stimulation of the retina in vivo in rat. Journal of Neural Engineering 2005; 2:S29-S38.
Hetling JR, & Baig-Silva MS (2004). Neural prostheses for vision: Designing a functional interface with retinal neurons. Neurological Research 2004; 26:21-34.

Mary Jo LaDu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Bioengineering

mladu@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
We study the hypothesis that structural and functional interactions among apolipoprotein E, amyloid-ß peptide and apolipoprotein E receptors influence the neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Selected references

Manelli, A.M., Bulfinch, L., Sullivan, P.M., and M.J. LaDu. Effect of Aß structure and human apoE isoform on primary co-cultures of neurons and glia. Neurobiology of Aging, 2007;28:1139-1147.
Manelli, A.M., Stine Jr., W.B., Van Eldik, L.J. and M.J. LaDu. ApoE and Aß1-42 interactions: effects of isoform and conformation on structure and function. J. Mol. Neuroscience, 2004;23:235-246.
Dahlgren, K.D., Manelli, A.M., Stine Jr., W.B., Baker, L.K., Krafft, G.A., and M.J. LaDu. Oligomeric and fibrillar species of amyloid-ß peptides differentially affect neuronal viability. J. Biol. Chem. 2002;277:32046-32053.

John Larson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Biological Sciences, Psychology

jrlarson@uic.edu

Cognition/Learning, Cellular/Molecular
Synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, olfactory system, comparative neurobiology.

Selected references

Larson, J, Kim D, Patel RC, Floreani C. Olfactory discrimination learning in mice lacking the fragile X mental retardation protein. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2008. Jul;90(1):90-102.
Larson J, Jessen RE, im D, Fine A, du Hoffmann J. Age-dependent and selective impairment of long-term potentiation in the anterior piriform cortex of mice lacking the fragile X mental retardation protein. J Neurosci. 2005 Oct 12;25(41):9460-9.
Larson J, Jesse RE, Uz T, Arslan AD, urtuncu M, Imbesi M, Manev H. Impaired hippocampal long-term potentiation in melatonin MT2 receptor-deficient mice. Neurosci Lett. 2006 Jan 23;393(1):23-6.

Orly Lazarov, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

olazarov@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease; The cross talk between neurogenesis and Alzheimer's disease pathology; Stem cell therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Selected references

Choi SH, Veeraraghavalu K, Lazarov O, Marler S, Ransohoff RM, Ramirez JM, Sisodia SS. Non-cell autonomous effects of presenilin 1 variants on enrichment hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. Neuron. 2008 Aug 28; 59(4): 568-80.
Lazarov O, Morfini GA, Pigino G, Gadadhar A., Chen X., Robinson J, Ho H, Brady ST, Sisodia SS. Impairments in fast axonal transport and motor neuron deficits in transgenic mice expressing familial Alzheimer's disease-linked mutant presenilin 1. J Neurosci. 2007 Jun 27;27(26):7011-20
Lazarov O, Peterson LD, Peterson DA, Sisodia SS. Expression of a familial Alzheimer's disease-linked presenilin-1 variant enhances perforant pathway lesion-induced neuronal loss in the entorhinal cortex. J Neurosci. 2006 Jan 11;26(2):429-34.

John P. Leonard, Ph.D.
Professor, Biological Sciences

leonard@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Cognition/Learning
I am involved in parlaying information on receptor and channel structure-function studies, particularly modulation by phosphorylation, into testable mutations in whole animals.

Selected references

Jones M.L., and Leonard J.P. PKC site mutations reveal differential modulation by insulin of NMDA receptors containing NR2A or NR2B subunits. J Neurochem. 2005 Mar;92(6):1431-8.
Liao G-Y., Wagner D.A., Hsu M.H., and Leonard J.P. Evidence for direct protein kinase-C mediated modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor current. Mol Pharmacol. 2001 May;59(5):960-4.
Wagner, D.A., and Leonard, J.P. Protein kinase C potentiation of currents from mouse zeta1/epsilon2 NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes depends on f-actin/g-actin cycling. Neurosci Lett. 1999 Sep 17;272(3):187-90.

Michael Levine, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

mikel@uic.edu

Cognition/Learning, Integrative Systems
Higher-level visual processing in the human brain; capabilities of the various visual pathways or channels that process visual information.

Selected references

Levine, MW. Variability in the firing of retinal ganglion cells of goldfish: A review. Visual Neurosci. 2007(24):239-246.
McAnany JJ, and Levine MW. Magnocellular and parvocellular visual pathway contributions to visual field anisotropies. Vision Research. 2007(47):2327-2336.
Levine MW and McAnany JJ. The effects of curvature on the grid illusions. Perception. 2008(37):171-184.

Susan W. Liebman, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Biological Sciences

suel@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular
We study yeast prions and use yeast as a model to study protein misfolding diseases including alzheimer's disease.

Selected references

Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO, Richmond JE, Liebman SW.Variant-specific [PSI+] Infection Is Transmitted by Sup35 Polymers within [PSI+] Aggregates with Heterogeneous Protein Composition. Mol Biol Cell. 2008 Jun;19(6):2433-43.
Taneja V, Maddelein ML, Talarek N, Saupe SJ, Liebman SW.A non-Q/N-rich prion domain of a foreign prion, [Het-s], can propagate as a prion in yeast. Mol Cell. 2007 Jul 6;27(1):67-77.
Bagriantsev S, Liebman S.Modulation of Abeta42 low-n oligomerization using a novel yeast reporter system. BMC Biol. 2006 Sep 26;4:32.

Anna Lysakowski, Ph.D.
Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

alysakow@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Integrative Systems
Our laboratory uses comparative morphological, physiological, and developmental approaches to study cellular and molecular differences between vestibular hair-cell and afferent types, and brainstem efferents that affect them.

Selected references

Lysakowski A, Goldberg JM. Ultrastructural analysis of the cristae ampullares in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). J Comp Neurol. 2008 Aug 26;511(1):47-64.
Holt JC, Lysakowski A, Goldberg JM. Mechanisms of efferent-mediated responses in the turtle posterior crista. J Neurosci. 2006 Dec 20;26(51):13180-93.
Grabner CP, Price SD, Lysakowski A, Cahill AL, Fox AP. Regulation of large dense-core vesicle volume and neurotransmitter content mediated by adaptor protein 3. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006 Jun 27;103(26):10035-40.

Richard Magin, Ph.D.
Professor & Head, Bioengineering

rmagin@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Disease/Therapeutics
Applying MRI to study fundamental processes and events in complex tissues such as the brain.

Selected references

Moresi, B. Meier, R.L. Magin, and E. Meyer. Magnetic damping losses of tipped cantilevers. Nanotechnology, 2006; 17: 871-880.
R.L. Magin, S. Boregowda, and C. Deodhar. Modeling of pulsating peripheral bioheat transfer using fractional calculus and constructal theory. J. of Design & Nature, 2007; 1:18-33.
R.L. Magin, O. Abdullah, D. Baleanu, and X.J. Zhou. Anomalous diffusion expressed through fractional order differential operators in the Bloch-Torrey equation. J. of Magnetic Resonance, 2008; 190: 255-270.

Pauline M. Maki, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Psychology

pmaki@psych.uic.edu

Cognition/Learning
Hormonal factors that influence cognitive functioning and mood in women.

Selected references

Maki PM, Drogos LL, Rubin LH, Banuvar S, Shulman LP, Geller SE. Objective hot flashes are negatively related to verbal memory performance in midlife women. Menopause. 2008 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print]
Mordecai KL, Rubin LH, Maki PM. Effects of menstrual cycle phase and oral contraceptive use on verbal memory. Horm Behav. 2008 Aug;54(2):286-93.
Maki PM, Gast MJ, Vieweg AJ, Burriss SW, Yaffe K. Hormone therapy in menopausal women with cognitive complaints: a randomized, double-blind trial.Neurology. 2007 Sep;69(13):1322-30.

R. Paul Malchow, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

paulmalc@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cellular/Molecular
Synaptic mechanisms in the vertebrate retina; neural-glial interactions; transport mechanisms.

Selected references

Lreitzer, MA, Collis L, Molina AJA, Smith PJS, and Malchow RP. Modulation of extracellular proton fluxes from retinal horizontal cells of the catfish by depolarization and glutamate. J. Gen. Physiol. 2007; 130:169-182.
Birnbaum, AD, Rohde SK, Qian H, Al-Ubaidi MR, Caldwell JH, and Malchow RP. Cloning, immunolocalization, and functional expression of a GABA transporter from the retina of the skate. Visual Neurosci. 2005; 22:211-23.
Molina, AJA, Verzi MP, Birnbaum AD, Kreitzer MA, Yamoha EN, Hammar K, Smith PJS, and Malchow RP. Neurotransmitter modulation of extracellular pH fluxes from retinal horizontal cells. J. Physiol. (London) 2004; 560:639-57.

Hari Manev, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Pharmacology in Psychiatry, Pharmacology

hmanev@psych.uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Epigenetic mechanisms in aging and in the action of psychoactive drugs. Mechanisms of the cardiovascular-depression comorbidity.

Selected references

Manev H, Manev R, Vidovich MI. Depression, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease: is 5-lipoxygenase the missing link? J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008 May20:51(20):1990-1.
Imbesi M, Zavoreo I, Uz T, Sharma RP, Dimitrijevic N, Manev H, Manev R. 5-Lipoxygenase inhibitor MK-866 increases GluR1 phosphorylation in neuronal cultures in vitro and in the mouse cortex in vivo. Brain Res. 2007 May 25;1147:148-53.
Manev H, Uz T, Clock genes: influencing and being influenced by psychoactive drugs. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2006 Apr;27(4):186-9.

Gerardo A. Morfini, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

gmorfini@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Our laboratory studies basic properties of intracellular transport and its role in the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases.

Selected references

Morfini G, Pigino G, Szebenyi G, You Y, Pollema S, Brady ST. "JNK mediates pathogenic effects of polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor on fast axonal transport" Nat Neurosci. 2006 Jul;9(7):907-16.
Morfini G, Pigino G, Opalach K, Serulle Y, Moreira JE, Sugimori M, Llinás RR, Brady ST. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium affects fast axonal transport by activation of caspase and protein kinase C. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Feb 13;104(7):2442-7.
DeBoer SR, You Y, Szodorai A, Kaminska A, Pigino G, Nwabuisi E, Wang B, Estrada-Hernandez T, Kins S, Brady ST, Morfini G. Conventional kinesin holoenzymes are composed of heavy and light chain homodimers. Biochemistry. 2008 Apr 15;47(15):4535-43.

A. Don Murphy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

dmurphy@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cellular/Molecular
The cellular organization of central pattern generators (CPGs) underlying multiple rhythmic behaviors. Functional modulation of CPGs by neuropeptides and monoamines.

Selected references

Elizabeth Scannell, Carly A. DellʼOva, Elizabeth M. Quinlan, A. Don Murphy and Nancy W. Kleckner. Pharmacology of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors on neurons involved in feeding behavior in the pond snail, Helisoma trivolvis. J. Exp. Biol.; 2008 Mar;211(5): 824-833.
Murphy AD. The neuronal basis of feeding in the snail, Helisoma, with comparisons to selected gastropods. Prog Neurobiol. 2001 Mar;63(4):383-408.
Quinlan EM, Arnett BC, Murphy AD. Feeding stimulants activate an identified dopaminergic interneuron that induces the feeding motor program in Helisoma. J Neurophysiol. 1997 Aug;78(2):812-24.

Yasuko Nakajima, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

yasukon@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Studies of ion channels and signal transduction in brain neurons related to sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and mental disorders.

Selected references

Kawano T, Zhao P, Floreani CV, Nakajima Y, Kozasa T, Nakajima S. Interaction of Gq and Kir3 (GIRK) channels. Mol. Pharmacol. 2007 Apr; 71: 1179-1184.
Yasufuku-Takano J, Nakajima S, Nakajima, Y. (2008) Morphological and physiological properties of serotonergic neurons in dissociated cultures from the postnatal rat dorsal raphe nucleus. J. Neuroscience Methods, 2008 Jan 30;167:258-267.
Imanishi M, Nakajima Y, Tomishima Y, Hamashima H, Washizuka K, Sakurai M, Matsui S, Imamura E, Ueshima K, Yamamoto T, Yamamoto N, Ishikawa H, Nakano K, Unami N, Hamada K, Matsumura Y, Takamura F, Hattori K. Discovery of a novel series of benzoic acid derivatives as potent and selective human beta3 adrenergic receptor agonists with good oral bioavailability. 3. Phenylethanolaminotetraline (PEAT) skeleton containing biphenyl or biphenyl ether moiety. J Med Chem. 2008 Aug 14;51(15):4804-22. Epub 2008 Jul 24.

John P. O'Bryan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology

obryanj@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Role of adaptor/scaffolding proteins in the regulation of signal transduction pathways, neuron survival/function,and neurodegenerative diseases.

Selected references

Das M, Scappini E, Martin NP, Wong KA, Dunn S, Chen YJ, Miller SL, Domin J, O'Bryan JP. Regulation of neuron survival through an intersectin-phosphoinositide 3'-kinase C2beta-AKT pathway. Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Nov;27(22):7906-17.
Scappini E, Koh TW, Martin NP, O'Bryan JP. Intersectin enhances huntingtin aggregation and neurodegeneration through activation of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase. Hum Mol Genet. 2007 Aug;16(15):1862-71.
Miller SL, Scappini EL, O'Bryan J. Ubiquitin-interacting motifs inhibit aggregation of polyQ-expanded huntingtin. J Biol Chem. 2007 Mar;282(13):10096-103.

Subhash Pandey, Ph.D.
Professor, Biochemistry in Psychiatry, Anatomy & Cell Biology; Director of Neuroscience Alcoholism Research

scpandey@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of anxiety and alcohol abuse disorders.

Selected references

Pandey SC, Ugale R, Zhang H, Tang L, Prakash A . Brain chromatin remodeling: a novel mechanism of alcoholism. J Neurosci. 2008; 28:3729-3737.
Pandey SC, Zhang H, Ugale R, Prakash A, Xu T, Misra K . Effector immediate-early gene Arc in the amygdala plays a critical role in alcoholism. J Neurosci. 2008; 28:2589-2600.
Prakash A, Zhang H, Pandey SC. Innate differences in the expression of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the specific circuitry of extended amygdala of alcohol preferring (P) and non-preferring (NP) rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008; 32:909-920.

Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychiatry, Bioengineering, Director of the Brain-Body Center

sporges@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cognition/Learning
Neurobiology of socio-emotional behaviors focusing on brain-autonomic-behavior interactions. Developing new biobehavioral assessments and treatments for clinical disorders including autism, depression, anxiety, and difficult infants.

Selected references

Porges SW. The polyvagal perspective. Biol Psychol. 2007 Feb;74(2):116-43. ew.
Asserting the role of biobehavioral sciences in translational research: the behavioral neurobiology revolution. Dev Psychopathol. 2006 Summer;18(3):923-33.
Grippo AJ, Lamb DG, Carter CS, Porges SW. Social isolation disrupts autonomic regulation of the heart and influences negative affective behaviors. Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Nov 15;62(10):1162-70.

Haohua Quian, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Biological Sciences

hqian@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Integrative Systems
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of visual signal processing in the vertebrate retina under normal and diseased conditions.

Selected references

Qian, H, Shah, M. R. Alexander, K. R. and Ripps, H. Two distinct processes are evident in rat cone flicker ERG responses at low and high temporal frequencies. Exp. Eye Res. 2008; 87:71-75.
Xie, A., Song, XQ., Ripps, H. and Qian, H. Cyclothiazide: a subunit-specific inhibitor of GABAC receptors. J. Physiol., 2008; 586:2743-2752.
Ramsey, D. J., Ripps, H. and Qian, H. An electrophysiological study of retinal function in the diabetic female rat. Invest. Ophthal. Vis. Sci., 2006; 47:5116-5124.

Michael E. Ragozzino, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology, Biological Sciences

mrago@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cognition/Learning
The main focus of my research focuses on understanding the neurobiology of learning and memory. The research involves in vivo neurochemistry techniques to understand neurotransmitter functions underlying learning and memory, as well as human brain.

Selected references

McCool MF, Patel S, Talati R, Ragozzino ME.Differential involvement of M1-type and M4-type muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the dorsomedial striatum in task switching. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2008;89(2):114-24.
Mohler EG, Shacham S, Noiman S, Lezoualc'h F, Robert S, Gastineau M, Rutkowski J, Marantz Y, Dumuis A, Bockaert J, Gold PE, Ragozzino ME.VRX-03011, a novel 5-HT4 agonist, enhances memory and hippocampal acetylcholine efflux. Neuropharmacology. 2007;53(4):563-73.
Palencia CA, Ragozzino ME.The effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockade on acetylcholine efflux in the dorsomedial striatum during response reversal learning. Neuroscience. 2006;143(3):671-8.

Mark M. Rasenick, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Physiology & Biophysics, Psychiatry; Co-Director Neuroscience Program

raz@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Regulation of G protein signaling by the synaptic cytoskeleton; molecular basis of mood disorders and psychotherapeutics.

Selected references

Allen J, Halvorsen, R and Rasenick MM. Lipid Raft Microdomains and Neurotransmitter Signaling. NATURE Reviews Neuroscience, 2007; 8:128-140.
Donati, RJ, Dwivedi, Y., Roberts, RC, Conley, RR, Pandey, GN and Rasenick, MM. Post-mortem Brain Tissue of Depressed Suicides Reveals Increased Gs Localization in Lipid Raft Domains Where it is Less Likely to Activate Adenylyl Cyclase. J. Neuroscience 2008; 28:3042-3050.
Layden, BT, Saengsawang, W, Donati, RJ, Yang, S, Mulhearn, DC, Johnson, ME and Rasenick MM. Structural model of a complex between the heterotrimeric G protein, Gsa and tubulin. Biochemica et Biophysica Acta—Mol. Cell Res. 2008; 1783:964-973.

Janet E. Richmond, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences

jer@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
We study the molecular basis of synaptic transmission using the genetic model organism C. elegans, with emphases on the regulation of neurotransmitter release and receptor trafficking.

Selected references

Gracheva EO, Burdina AO, Holgado AM, Berthelot-Grosjean M, Ackley BD, Hadwiger G, Nonet ML, Weimer RM and Richmond JE Tomosyn inhibits Synaptic Vesicle Priming in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Biology 2006;4:1426-1437.
Gally C, Eimer, S, Richmond JE and Bessereau JL A transmembrane protein required for acetylcholine receptor clustering in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature 2004;431:578-582.
Gracheva EO, Burdina AO, Touroutine D, Berthelot-Grosjean M, Parekh H, Richmond JE. Tomosyn negatively regulates CAPS-dependent peptide release at Caenorhabditis elegans synapses. J. Neurosci. 2007;27(38):10176-84.

Mitchell F. Roitman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology

mroitman@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cognition/Learning
Motivated behavior, reward, aversion, feeding, obesity, drug addiction, dopamine, limbic circuitry, basal ganglia.

Selected references

Day JJ, Roitman MF, Wightman RM & Carelli RM. Associative learning mediates dynamic shifts in dopamine signaling within the nucleus accumbens. Nature Neuroscience, 2007;10: 1020-1028.
Roitman, MF, Wheeler RA & Carelli RM. Nucleus accumbens neurons are innately tuned for rewarding and aversive taste stimuli, encode their predictors, and are linked to motor output. Neuron, 2005; 45: 587-597.
Roitman MF, Stuber GD, Phillips PEM, Wightman RM & Carelli RM. Dopamine operates as a subsecond modulator of feeding. Journal of Neuroscience, 2004; 24:1265-1271.

Dan Schonfeld, Ph.D.
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Bioengineering

dans@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Integrative Systems
Multi-Dimensional Signal Processing; Image and Video Analysis; Computer Vision; and Genomic Signal Processing.

Selected references

Pavlovic V, Schonfeld D, and Friedman G. Stochastic noise process enhancement of Hopfield neural networks. IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems. 2005; 52:213-217.
Balakrishnan N, Hariharakrishnan K, and Schonfeld D. A new image representation algorithm inspired by image submodality models, redundancy reduction, and learning in biological vision. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence. 2005; 27:1367-1378.
Bouaynaya N and Schonfeld D. Protein communication system: Evolution and genomic structure. Algorithmica, Special issue on Algorithmic Methodologies for Processing Protein Structures, Sequences and Networks. 2007; 48:375-397.

Mahnaz Shahidi, Ph.D.
Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Bioengineering

mahnshah@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics
Development of optical imaging systems and image processing algorithms for diagnosis of eye diseases.

Selected references

Shahidi, M., Shakoor, A., Blair, N.P., Mori, M., Shonat, R. A Method for Measurement of Chorioretinal Oxygen Tension. Current Eye Research. 2006; 31(4):357-66.
Wanek, J., Mori, M., Shahidi, M. The Effect of Aberrations and Scatter on Image Resolution Assessed by Adaptive Optics Retinal Section Imaging. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2007; 24(5):1296-1304.
Bagci, A.M., Shahidi, M., Ansari, R, Blair, M., Blair, N.P., Zelkha, R. Thickness Profiles of Retinal Layers by Optical Coherence Tomography Image Segmentation. AJO. 2008 Nov;146(5):679-687.e1.

Rajiv Sharma, M.D.
Professor, Psychiatry

rsharma@psych.uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Elucidating the mechanisms of epigenetic control in postmitotic neurons, the regulation of key epigenetic regulatory proteins, the relationship between neuronal depolarization and chromatin remodeling. Where direct translation into patient/human tissues is possible, then clinical protocols are designed and executed in patients with the major psychotic illnesses.

Selected references

Sharma RP, Nguwah Tun. Grayson DR. Depolarization induces down-regulation of DNMT1 and DNMT3a mRNA in primary cortical cultures. Epigenetics. 2008;3(2):74-80.
Sharma RP, Grayson DR, Gavin D. Histone deactylase 1 expression is increased in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia subjects: analysis of the National Brain Databank microarray collection. Schizophr Res. 2008a Jan;98(1-3):111-7.
Gavin D, Kartan S, Chase K, Grayson DR, Sharma RP. Reduced baseline acetylated histone 3 levels, and a blunted response to HDAC inhibition in lymphocyte cultures from schizophrenia subjects. Schizophr Res. 2008 Aug;103(1-3):330-2. Epub 2008 Jun 9.

Scott Shippy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry, Bioengineering

shippy@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Our research involves analytical tool development for chemical characterization of normal and disease processes of neurochemical signaling in the central nervous systems of a variety of model systems.

Selected references

Pritchett JS, Pulido JS, Shippy SA. Measurement of region-specific nitrate levels of the posterior chamber of the rat eye using low-flow push-pull perfusion. Anal Chem. 2008 Jul 15;80(14):5342-9.
Thongkhao-on K, Wirtshafter D, Shippy SA. Feeding specific glutamate surge in the rat lateral hypothalamus revealed by low-flow push-pull perfusion. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 Jun;89(4):591-7.
Piyankarage SC, Augustin H, Grosjean Y, Featherstone DE, Shippy SA. Hemolymph amino acid analysis of individual Drosophila larvae. Anal Chem. 2008 Feb 15;80(4):1201-7.

Neil R. Smalheiser, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Anatomy & Cell Biology

neils@uic.edu

Cellular/Molecular, Disease/Therapeutics
Biochemical, molecular, developmental, and cellular studies of nerve cells; microRNAs, other small RNAs and RNA interference in the nervous system; data-mining techniques in medical informatics and bioinformatics.

Selected references

Lugli G, Torvik VI, Larson J, Smalheiser NR. Expression of microRNAs and their precursors in synaptic fractions of adult mouse forebrain. J Neurochem. 2008;106(2):650-61.
Smalheiser NR. Exosomal transfer of proteins and RNAs at synapses in the nervous system. Biol Direct. 2007;2:35.
Smalheiser NR, Torvik VI. Alu elements within human mRNAs are probable microRNA targets. Trends Genet. 2006;22(10):532-6.

Greg R.J. Thatcher , Ph.D.
Professor & Asst. Head, Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy

thatcher@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics, Cognition/Learning
Approaches to neurodegenerative and affective disorders through modulating estrogenic and serotonergic pathways in the CNS and in particular NO/cGMP signaling. Design and synthesis of novel small molecules that modulate these pathways is complemented by cell based assays and study in animal behavioral models. One molecule has entered clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease.

Selected references

Bennett BM, Reynolds JN, Prusky GT, Douglas RM, Sutherland RJ, Thatcher GR. Cognitive deficits in rats after forebrain cholinergic depletion are reversed by a novel NO mimetic nitrate ester. Neuropsychopharmacol. (2007), 32, 505-513.
Thatcher GRJ, Bennett BM, Reynolds JN. NO chimeras as therapeutic agents in Alzheimer's disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2006 3:237-245.
Thatcher GRJ, Bennett BM, Dringenberg HC, Reynolds JN. Novel nitrates as NO mimetics directed at Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2004 6:S75-84.

David E. Vaillancourt, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Nutrition, Bioengineering, Neurology and Rehabilitation

court1@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Disease/Therapeutics
My laboratory studies the role of the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum in healthy and pathological motor control.

Selected references

Prodoehl J, Yu H, Wasson P, Corcos DM, Vaillancourt DE. Effects of visual and auditory feedback on sensorimotor circuits in the basal ganglia. J Neurophysiol. 2008;99(6):3042-51.
Spraker MB, Yu H, Corcos DM, Vaillancourt DE. Role of individual basal ganglia nuclei in force amplitude generation. J Neurophysiol. 2007;98(2):821-34.
Yu H, Sternad D, Corcos DM, Vaillancourt DE. Role of hyperactive cerebellum and motor cortex in Parkinson's disease. Neuroimage. 2007;35(1):222-33.

Z. Jim Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Chemistry, Bioengineering

shippy@uic.edu

Selected references

Pritchett JS, Pulido JS, Shippy SA. Measurement of region-specific nitrate levels of the posterior chamber of the rat eye using low-flow push-pull perfusion. Anal Chem. 2008 Jul 15;80(14):5342-9.
Thongkhao-on K, Wirtshafter D, Shippy SA. Feeding specific glutamate surge in the rat lateral hypothalamus revealed by low-flow push-pull perfusion. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008 Jun;89(4):591-7.
Piyankarage SC, Augustin H, Grosjean Y, Featherstone DE, Shippy SA. Hemolymph amino acid analysis of individual Drosophila larvae. Anal Chem. 2008 Feb 15;80(4):1201-7.

Rosemary C. White-Traut, Ph.D., RN
Prof. and Head, Women, Children Family Health Science

rtw@uic.edu

Disease/Therapeutics
Dr. White-Traut’s research includes the evaluation of autonomic, neuro-hormonal, and behavioral responses of premature and full term infants to the ATVV intervention.

Selected references

Carter CS, Pournajafi-Nazarloo, H, Kramer, KM, Ziegler, TE, White-Traut, RC, Bello, D, Schwertz, D. Oxytocin: Behavioral associations and potential as a salivary biomarker. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. 2007; 1098, 312-322.
White-Traut, R.C, Schwertz, D. McFarlin, B, Kogan, J. Salivary cortisol responses of normal full-term infants to moderate touch tactile only and auditory-tactile-visual-and vestibular stimulation. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing. 2008.
White-Traut, RC, Watanabe, K, Pournajafi-Nazarloo, H, Schwertz, D, Bell, A, Carter, S. Detection of Salivary Oxytocin Levels in Lactating Women. Physiologiy and Behavior. 2008.

David Wirtshafter, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

davew@uic.edu

Integrative Systems, Cognition/Learning
Neural basis of motivated behavior; structure and function of the basal ganglia; immediate-early gene expression.

Selected references

Wirtshafter, D. Rotation and Fos expression following treatment with the atypical D1 dopamine agonist SKF 83822. Pharmacol., Biochem. Behav., 2007;86:505-510.
Stratford, T.R. & Wirtshafter, D. NPY mediates the feeding elicited by muscimol injections into the nucleus accumbens shell. NeuroReport, 2004;15:959-965.
Wirtshafter, D. The control of ingestive behavior by the median raphe nucleus. Appetite, 2000; 36: 99-105.

William A. Wolf, Ph.D.
Visiting Associate Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology

william.wolf@va.gov

Disease/Therapeutics, Cellular/Molecular
The central research theme is to understand adaptive changes in neuronal function (“neural plasticity”) that occur in psychiatric and neurologic disorders (e.g. Parkinson disease, drug abuse, stroke) with the goal of developing plasticity-targeted pharmacotherapy.

Selected references

Papadopoulos, C.M., S.-Y. Tsai, V. Guillen, J. Ortega, G.L. Kartje and W.A. Wolf. Motor recovery and axonal plasticity with short-term amphetamine following stroke. Stroke (in press).
Mignon, L. and W.A. Wolf. Postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor stimulation increases motor activity in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat: Implications for treating Parkinson’s disease. Psychopharmacol. (2007);192:49-59.
Mignon, L. and W.A. Wolf (2005): 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin reduces striatal glutamate in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. NeuroReport (2005); 16: 699-703.

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