Congratulations to Dr. Susan Mooberry on receiving President's Council of Excellence Award in recognition of exceptional scientific leadership in advancing research to make lives better; Dr. Randy Strong's paper published in Nature, showing that rapamycin increases lifespan in mammals, was chosen by Science Magazine as one of this year's runner-ups for scientific

Neuroscience Track Faculty Profiles

Graduate Training Faculty

Martin Adamo, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – regulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 gene expression and cellular functions

Mike Beckstead, Ph.D. (Physiology) – electrophysiology of dopamine neurons; synaptic transmission and drug abuse

Manzoor Bhat, M.S., Ph.D. (Physiology) – molecular neuron-glia interactions, synaptic development and neurological disorders

James Bower, Ph.D. (Barshop/Radiology) – information processing in cortical circuits in cerebellum and the olfactory system

Tom Boyer, Ph.D. (Molecular Medicine) – transcriptional regulation and DNA repair in neuronal cell systems

Robert Brenner, Ph.D. (Physiology) – Integrative physiology and biophysics of ion channel structure and cellular signaling

Robin Brey, M.D. (Neurology) – stroke, lupus erythematosus, autoimmunity and antiphospholipid syndrome

Melanie Carless, Ph.D. (TX Biomed Res Inst) – epigenetic mechanisms and miRNAs associated with neuropsychiatric disorders

Jose Cavazos, M.D., Ph.D. (Neurology) – hippocampal plasticity; mechanisms of neuronal hyperexcitability, epilepsy

Robert Clark, M.D. (Medicine) – Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neutrophil signal transduction and activation; transcriptional regulation of genes relevant to biology of aging

William Clarke, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – molecular and cellular mechanisms of drug efficacy and differential signal transduction [View video introduction to Dr. Clarke's lab]

Lynette Daws, Ph.D. (Physiology) – regulation of monoamine transporters, psychotherapeutic drug effects [View video introduction to Dr. Daws' lab]

Michael Duff Davis, Ph.D. (Radiological Sciences) – Small animal imaging, Research Imaging Center

Timothy Duong, Ph.D. (Radiological Sciences) – high-resolution fMRI imaging of retinal anatomy and function in animals and humans; anatomical and functional imaging of tissue fate in stroke models

Murat Digicaylioglu, M.D. (Neurosurgery) – Role of cytokines and stem cells in neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases [View video introduction to Dr. Digicaylioglu's lab]

Ben Eaton, Ph.D. (Physiology) – molecular mechanisms of synaptic stability and neurodegeneration [View video introduction to Dr. Eaton's lab]

Paul Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – Regulation of enzymes involved in neurotransmitter biosynthesis

Charles France, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – behavioral and pharmacological factors influencing the abuse liability of drugs [View video introduction to Dr. France's lab]

Alan Frazer, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – mechanisms of action of antidepressant drugs, regulation of serotonin transporter function [View video introduction to Dr. Frazer's lab]

Veronica Galvan-Hart, Ph.D. (Physiology) – cellular and molecular processes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Lisa Gerak, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – behavioral pharmacology of the GABAA receptor, with an emphasis on the effects of ethanol and neuroactive steroids

Andrea Giuffrida, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – Cannabinoid regulation of basal ganglia function and implications for Parkinson’s disease and Schizophrenia [View video introduction to Dr. Giuffrida's lab]

Randolph Glickman, Ph.D. (Ophthalmology) – retinal physiology and neurobiology, biomedical optics

Kenneth Hargreaves, D.D.S., Ph.D. (Endodontics) – neuropharmacology of primary nociceptors and pain sensitivity [View video introduction to Dr. Hargreaves' lab]

John Hart, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – molecular and biochemical basis for inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Michael Henry, D.D.S., Ph.D. (Endodontics) – voltage-gated sodium channels in trigeminal pain; electron and confocal microscopy

Julie Hensler, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – cellular and molecular mechanisms in regulation of neurotransmitter receptor function [View video introduction to Dr. Hensler's lab]

Nathan Jeske, Ph.D. (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) – biochemical modulation of peripheral pain in nociceptive neurons by regulation of TRPV1 channel function

Jean Jiang, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – function and regulation of gap junctions; connexins in cell signaling and development

John Johnson, Ph.D. (Physiology) – control mechanisms in regulation of cutaneous circulation

Dean Kellogg, M.D., Ph.D. (Medicine) – physiology and pathophysiology of peripheral circulation in humans

Jun Hee Kim, Ph.D. (Physiology) – myelination and regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission

Wouter Koek, Ph.D. (Psychiatry) – animal models of drug abuse, subjective effects and treatments [View video introduction to Dr. Koek's lab]

Erzsebet Kokovay, Ph.D. (Cell & Structural Biology) – molecular and cellular regulation of neural stem cells and adult neurogenesis

Eileen Lafer, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – synaptic vesicle proteins; mechanisms of synaptic vesicle exo- and endocytosis [View video introduction to Dr. Lafer's lab]

Richard Lamb, Ph.D. (Psychiatry) – behavioral pharmacology and neurobiology of drug addiction and treatment

Robin Leach, Ph.D. (Cell and Structural Biology) – human molecular genetics and neural disease mechanisms, 18q-syndrome

James Lechleiter, Ph.D. (Cell and Structural Biology) – mitochondrial calcium regulation in cell death and survival in the aging process [View video introduction to Dr. Lechleiter's lab]

Senlin Li, M.D. (Medicine) – hematopoietic stem cell-derived macrophage gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases

Daniel Lodge, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – Hippocampal and other afferent regulation of mesolimbic dopamine activity [View video introduction to Dr. Lodge's lab]

Xin-Yun Lu, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – interaction of neural circuits regulating appetite and stress responsiveness [View video introduction to Dr. Lu's lab]

Greg Macleod, Ph.D. (Physiology) – molecular and sub-cellular mechanisms that regulate neuronal calcium [View video introduction to Dr. Macleod's lab]

Lance McMahon, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – receptor mechanisms of cannabis action, behavioral processes involved in dependence [View video introduction to Dr. McMahon's lab]

David Morilak, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – brain norepinephrine in the stress response, anxiety and antidepressant drug action [View video introduction to Dr. Morilak's lab]

Bruce Nicholson, Ph.D. (Biochemistry) – structure of gap junctions; genetic and structural diversity of connexins in disease [View video introduction to Dr. Nicholson's lab]

Jason O'Connor, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – Tryptophan metabolism and mechanisms linking neuroinflammation and depression [View video introduction to Dr. O'Connor's lab]

Salvatore Oddo, Ph.D. (Physiology) – molecular mechanisms of age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders

Mark Shapiro, Ph.D. (Physiology) – ion channel physiology; regulation by intracellular signaling pathways and excitability [View video introduction to Dr. Shapiro's lab]

James Stockand, Ph.D. (Physiology) – structure, function and regulation of ENaC/Degenerin sodium ion channels

Randy Strong, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – role of catecholamines in aging; regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression

Glenn Toney, Ph.D. (Physiology) – cellular, molecular and integrative mechanisms of sympathetic nervous system function [View video introduction to Dr. Toney's lab]

Consuelo Walss-Bass, Ph.D. (Psychiatry) – genetic polymorphisms in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia [View video introduction to Dr. Walss-Bass' lab]

Holly VanRemmen, Ph.D. (Cell and Structural Biology) – Role of mitochondria and oxidative stress in neuromuscular degeneration in aging and disease

David Weiss, Ph.D. (Physiology) – GABA receptor structure and function

Doug Williamson, Ph.D. (Psychiatry) – Role of genes and environment in adolescent psychiatric disorders, and in PTSD

Affiliated Faculty

Merrill Carolin, M.D. (Neurology) – cerebrovascular disease, clinical trials of stroke prevention and treatment

Jean-Louis Caron, M.D. (Neurosurgery) – innovative therapies for neurovascular disorders; radiosurgery and complex spinal surgery

Pedro Delgado, M.D. (Psychiatry) – interaction of stressful environments with genetic risk factors contributing to depression; mechanisms of successful antidepressant treatment

Miguel Fernandez, M.D. (Surgery) – Snakebites, poisonings, trauma related to poisoning or poisoning treatment

David Jimenez, M.D. (Neurosurgery) – Chair of Neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery

Shivani Maffi, Ph.D. (Medicine) – effects of alcohol on neurons and glia during fetal development

James Roberts, Ph.D. (Pharmacology) – steroid-mediated neuroprotection in Parkinson’s Disease; regulation of neuropeptide metabolism

Charles Szabo, M.D. (Neurology) – genetic, neuroimaging and behavioral aspects of epilepsy

Brent Thompson, Ph.D. (Cell and Structural Biology) – serotonin transporter polymorphisms in psychiatric disorders & treatment

Kristine Vogel, Ph.D. (Cell and Structural Biology) – mechanisms of tumorigenesis and neural development in neurofibromatosis

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Neuroscience Track Faculty Profiles

Graduate Training Faculty

Affiliated Faculty