Drs. Bieberich, Frolenkov, Gensel, Lee, McClintock, Rabchevsky, Saatman, Smith, Taylor, Wilson Ceramide is a membrane sphingolipid at the interface of basic and translational neuroscience.
Neuro Stem cells, degeneration, Basic (Alzheimer’s) Neural development neuroscience Brain injury cluster Neuro Inflammation, Nervous Blood-brain- system cancer barrier Ceramide biology Dr. Erhard Bieberich MS519 Neuro Neuro pharmacology oncology Translational Neuroengineering Regenerative neuroscience medicine cluster
The Bieberich lab focuses on the function of ceramide in neural development and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s disease) Frolenkov Lab: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Deafness We are open for new students!
Techniques: Selected publications: • Knockout & transgenic mice; 2017: Nature Commun., eLife • Patch-clamp recordings; 2015: Nature Commun., eLife • Super-resolution optical imaging; 2013: PLoS Biology, J. Clin. Invest. • 3D electron microscopy; 2012: Nature Genetics • Ultra-fast Ca2+ imaging; 2010: Cell • Scanning probe microscopy; 2009: Nature Methods, PNAS • Live animal auditory physiology Gensel Lab
inflammation pathology repair
BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURY
Macrophages have dual properties
trauma age O2
._ physiological regulators: O2 H2O2 NOX2 age, gender, sex OH. ROS drug development
mechanisms Inflammation-Induced Airway Hypersensitivity: From Ion Channels to Patients
Lu-Yuan Lee, Ph.D. Department of Physiology University of Kentucky Medical Center Which receptors in my McClintock Lab: When we are not sitting and thinking nose respond to this odor? about how smell works, we identify which odorant Could I block them? receptor proteins (mice have 1,100) respond to odors and investigate what regulates the expression of these odorant receptor genes. Pharmacological, Biochemical & Transplantation Approaches to Treat Spinal Cord Injury Rabchevsky Lab
Sasha Rabchevsky Professor of Physiology Ph.D. in Neuroscience University of Florida (1995)
Principle Research Focuses: I. Utilize biochemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, and transplantation to protect ‘mitochondrial bioenergetics’ to promote functional neuroprotection after SCI II. Test drugs to treat ‘autonomic dysreflexia’ after SCI, an uncontrolled hypertensive condition that leads to cardiovascular and immunological complications Note: All methodologies are described on poster
Supported by grants from NIH/NINDS, Conquer Paralysis Now, the Neilsen Foundation & UK CCTS Traumatic Brain Injury
Understanding TBI through mouse models • Repeated mild head injury (concussion) • Contusion TBI • Axonal injury Saatman Lab
Testing therapies: Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis Molecular after TBI mechanisms of axonal and neuronal injury Bret N. Smith, Ph.D., Professor, Physiology Neuronal Interactions in the Brain
Research aims: Understand functional connectivity, modulation, and plasticity of neuronal systems.
Main techniques: Electrophysiology, optogenetics/chemogenetics, immunochemistry, histochemistry, neuropharmacology, neuroanatomy, molecular biology, and behavior.
Specific areas of study:
1. Synaptic organization of neurons regulating autonomic function a. Synaptic organization in the brainstem b. Neuromodulation and plasticity of brainstem and hypothalamic circuits c. Disorders and diseases: Diabetes, obesity
2. Synaptic reorganization in the epileptic brain a. Synaptic organization of the hippocampus b. Neuromodulation and plasticity of reorganized circuits c. Disorders and diseases: Epilepsy, brain injury
Now taking students! Brad Taylor Lab: Molecular and Behavioral Neurobiology of Chronic Pain, Analgesia, and Opioid Dependence • University of California, San Diego (Pharmacology), 1986-1991, PhD • University of California, San Francisco (Neuroscience), 1992-1999, postdoc / assistant research professor • University of Missouri, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, 1999-2002 • Tulane University, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, 2002-2008 • University of Kentucky, Professor of Physiology, 2008- • University of Kentucky, Director, Center for Analgesia Research Excellence (CARE), 2017
1. R01DA037621 (2015-2020). “Long-term activation of spinal opioid analgesia after inflammation”
Corder G, Doolen S et al, Science, 2013 – shows that intrinsic mu opioid receptor constitutive activity (MORCA) inhibits chronic pain (Greg Corder received his PhD at UK Physiology and now is at Stanford with a K99/R00; Suzanne Doolen is now a senior, NIH-funded member of our group. Both are poised for tenure-track faculty positions) Current projects •Lilian Custodio-Patsey, DDS (PhD Candidate): determines opioid receptor pharmacology in the spinal cord •Andy Cooper, PhD (postdoc): studies neuropeptide receptor signaling of pain inhibition in brainstem
•Mads Werner, MD (collaborator): considers MORCA in postoperative pain patients
2. R01NS45954 (2016-2021). “Neuropeptidergic inhibition of spinal pain transmission” (after nerve injury) Current projects •Ghanshyam Sinha, PhD: records the neurophysiology of genetically-identified NPY receptor neurons •Pranav Prasoon, PhD (postdoc): evaluates NPY receptor gene expression
3. R01NS62306 (2017-2022). “PPARγ inhibition of spinal pain transmission” • Diogo Santos, MS (PhD candidate): studies drug-drug interactions • Renee Donahue, MS (Lab supervisor): focuses on painful diabetes 4. The Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor and Chronic Pain • Ben Shaw (PhD student): focuses on glia regulation of neuropathic pain in Multiple Sclerosis • Brandon Farmer (MD/PhD student): applying a molecular genetic approach to understanding pain inhibition in the amygdala Wilson Laboratory Estrogen Action in Non-Reproductive Systems: Molecular mechanisms of Sex Differences in the Brain
CALL OF DUTY
1. Neurodevelopment-Neonatal exposure to opioids 2. Neuroprotection-Sex differences in response to stroke 3. Aging-Modification of steroid hormone receptors