Alliance for Research
Training in Neuroscience

The Meharry/Vanderbilt Alliance for Research Training in Neuroscience grew out of a broader, formal Alliance, created in 1998 with the pledge to interact extensively on biomedical research, research training and clinical care. The faculty and leaders of graduate education at each institution forged a partnership to enhance neuroscience research and training at both institutions, while preserving the unique beneficial characteristics of the two schools.

The long-range vision is to create a center of excellence for minority training in neuroscience to serve as a model for an innovative program that addresses the national need for increasing underrepresented minorities in science. Strengths of the joint Meharry/Vanderbilt neuroscience-training program include the close proximity of the two institutions, the long history of faculty interactions, outstanding leadership, and the sincere commitment and support by faculty and upper level administrators at both institutions.

We offer a series of sequential training opportunities extending from undergraduate research to postgraduate career development. The first step in this concerted effort is to increase recruitment of underrepresented minority graduate students by providing summer research experiences to minority undergraduate students. The next phases are graduate school followed by a postdoctoral period of training. Our training program links rigorous graduate training with a structured postgraduate program to facilitate the transition of minorities into successful research careers. The postdoctoral and career launching component of this training program brings in faculty in the intramural program at the National Institute of Mental Health to expand the exceptional research training opportunities. This coordinated program for undergraduate-graduate-postdoctoral training is supported by training grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.

BROAD AREAS OF RESEARCH EMPHASIS

Neural Development and Developmental Disorders
Molecular Control of Excitability, Epilepsy and Conduction Disorders
Molecular Basis of Signaling and Plasticity
Neuropsychopharmacology, Behavior and Transgenic Mouse Models
Human Genetics and Model System Genetics
Cell Death, Aging, Neurodegenerative Disorders and Models
Neuroimaging: Physiology and Pathophysiology

TRAINING FACULTY

The diverse faculty has extensive, well-funded research programs. A brief statement of the research interests of the individual faculty is given below. Physical proximity and a willingness and enthusiasm for collaborative research and for sharing expertise among the laboratories makes the scientific environment at Meharry and Vanderbilt one in which students can continually learn, remain excited about the scientific process, and be constantly motivated to discover new concepts and new strategies.

Twum Ansah, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Division of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, Meharry Medical College: Mouse genetic models of drug abuse The laboratory explores the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate psychiatric disorders such as depression and drug abuse. For example, genetic approaches are being employed to gain insight into the mechanism of action of the popular recreational drug of abuse, 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy).

Bruce D. Appel, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University: Genetics and Molecular Biology of Neural Development The goal of the Appel laboratory is to learn how precise patterns of distinct neurons and glial cells are generated during development of vertebrate nervous systems using genetic approaches in zebrafish.

Michael Aschner, Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Neurotoxicology: Astrocytic biochemistry and physiology On-going studies address (1) the mechanisms and consequences of astrocytic swelling, (2) the role of astrocytes in heavy metal (mercury, manganese, and uranium) neurotoxicity, and (3) neurodevelopmental sequelae of environmental exposures to metals and xenobiotics.

James Blair, Ph.D. Chief, Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, NIMH Intramural Research Program: Morality in typically developing individuals and individuals with psychopathy Studies have focused on the role of empathy in the development of morality. Additional studies are evaluating constraining models of empathy, using a neuropsychological approach in neurological patients or psychiatric populations who have specific forms of empathic impairment.

Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D. Allan D. Bass Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Genetics and Regulation of Neurotransmitter Transporters The Blakely laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for neurotransmitter transport and how these mechanisms are disrupted in brain/autonomic disorders.

Bruce D. Carter, Ph.D. Associate Professor in Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Neurobiology of Neurotrophin Signaling The Carter laboratory studies the molecular signaling pathways supporting neurotrophin function in neurons and glia.

Vivien A. Casagrande, Ph.D. Professor of Cell Biology, Psychology, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University: Visual System Development and Processing The goal of Dr. Casagrande's research is to understand how visual information is processed in the brain and how nerve cells in the visual system become appropriately organized and connected during development.

Clivel Charlton, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmaoclogy; Chief, Division of Neurbiology and Neuropathology, Meharry Medical College: Excess methylation in the brain and Parkinson’s disease The working hypothesis is that biological methylation, which increases during aging, has a wear-and-tear function on the nigrostriatal DA neurons and precipitates the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, through specific biochemical pathways and by exacerbating “silent” underlying basal ganglia dopamine neuron deficiencies.

Sanika Chirwa, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physiology, Meharry Medical College; Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Synaptic Plasticity and Neurophysiological Correlates of Serotonin Receptors Dr. Chirwa’s research explores neurophysiological correlates of learning and memory and of a subset of brain serotonin receptors, with the goal of defining the signaling pathways and regulatory mechanisms.

John T. Clark, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Physiology, Meharry Medical College; Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt: Neurobiology and Neuroendocrinology of Aging and Blood Pressure Control Current research in the Clark laboratory is testing the hypothesis that estrogen modifies sympathetic tone via increased norepinephrine release in anterior hypothalamic nucleus.

Roger J. Colbran, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Organization and Regulation at the Postsynaptic Membrane The Colbran lab studies the molecular basis of phosphorylation-dependent synaptic plasticity.

P. Jeffrey Conn, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Neuropharmacology of Brain Diseases The Conn laboratory explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms of regulation of neuronal function, including the development of novel treatments for brain disorders.

Louis J. DeFelice, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Biophysical Analysis of Recombinant and Native Neurotransmitter Transporters The DeFelice laboratory studies neurotransmitter uptake mechanisms, applying biophysical techniques to study transport mechanisms.

Ariel Y. Deutch, Ph.D. Professor of Psychiatry and of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Monoaminergic Signaling and Circuitry in Prefrontal Cortex and Thalamus The Deutch laboratory focuses on elucidating the role of central monoamine neurons in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

Ford Ebner, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Vanderbilt University: Somatosensory Cortex Development and Plasticity The Ebner laboratory examines the foundation of learning disabilities resulting from impaired development of specific brain mechanisms that are important for synaptic plasticity.

Ronald B. Emeson, Ph.D. Joel G. Hardman Associate Professor of Pharmacology and of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: RNA Splicing and Editing Mechanisms Regulating Neuropeptide and Biogenic Amine Signaling The Emeson laboratory utilizes molecular and transgenic approaches to evaluate RNA splicing and RNA editing decisions in the CNS and periphery.

Guo-Huang Fan, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Division of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, Meharry Medical College: Chemokine receptor signaling and trafficking in central nervous system The laboratory is trying to understand how chemokine receptors are involved in neurodegeneration and in neuroblastoma and glioma growth and metastasis.

Aurelio Galli, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Molecular Physioloogy & Biophysics and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Neurotransmitter transporters as targets of drugs of abuse The laboratory utilizes electrophysiological and biochemical techniques to characterize new functional aspects of dopamine and norepinephrine transporters involved in the mechanism of action of amphetamine and cocaine.

Alfred L. George, Jr., M.D. Grant W. Liddle Professor of Medicine and of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Human and Molecular Genetics of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels The George laboratory is engaged in a broad spectrum of research activities aimed at elucidating the structure, function, and molecular genetics of voltage-gated ion channels.

John Gore, Ph.D. Professor of Radiology and Physics, Chief, Vanderbilt Univeristy: Development and Application of Imaging Techniques Imaging of human subjects and small animals provide unique information on brain structure and function. Applications of structural and functional MRI to brain are done in collaboration with investigators in the Alliance program.

Jonathan L. Haines, Ph.D. Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: Genetics of Complex Trait Brain Disorders The primary research focus in the Haines laboratory is the identification of genes involved in common and genetically complex human diseases.

Heidi E. Hamm, Ph.D. Earl Sutherland Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Basis of G-Protein Modulated Secretion and Signaling at Synapses Research in the Hamm laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular basis of signaling mechanisms mediated by heterotrimeric G proteins.

Darryl Hood, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College: Neurotoxicology: From Molecules to Behavior The Hood laboratory is investigating the molecular and behavioral consequences of environmental toxins from fetal development through adulthood.

Robert B. Innis, M.D., Ph.D. Chief, Section on PET Neuroimaging Sciences, NIMH: Molecular Probes of Human Disease and Animal Models of Human Pathophysiology This laboratory evaluates and uses PET tracers as molecular probes of physiology and pathophysiology in animals and humans. Probes of receptor targets, intracellular signal transduction and gene expression are being developed.

Joel E. Kleinman, M.D., Ph.D. Chief of the Section on Neuropathology, NIMH Intramural Research Program: Neuropathology of Clinical Brain Disorders The research program is primarily interested in the neuropathology of schizophrenia and seeks to determine the molecular, cellular and genetic mechanisms that underlie this syndrome.

Pat R. Levitt, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and mental retardation The Levitt laboratory investigates molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of brain circuits, including the behavioral and circuitry problems that arise from abnormal brain development following in utero exposure to drugs of abuse. The laboratory also uses genetic tools, including gene microarray and proteomics, to investigate the molecular alterations underlying specific psychopathologies.

Robert L. Macdonald, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Neurology, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Analysis of Ion Channels in Epilepsy The Macdonald laboratory focuses on mechanisms of ion channel regulation and dysregulation supporting normal and epileptiform activity in the mammalian brain. Recombinant and native inhibitory GABAA receptor channels are studied using single channel and whole cell patch clamp recording techniques.

Husseini Manji, M.D. Chief, Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, NIMH Intramural Research Program: Pathophysiology of Mood Disorders The focus is the investigation of disease- and treatment-induced changes in gene and protein expression profiles that regulate neuroplasticity and cellular resilience in mood.

Gregory Matthews, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Neurology, Vanderbilt University: Mechanisms of Regulation of Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission Research focuses on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, in particular, how inhibitory synapses adapt in order to maintain a precise balance between excitation and inhibition. Inability of the brain to counterbalance excitatory drive with sufficient inhibition is a potential mechanism for the generation of epileptic seizures.

Douglas McMahon, Ph.D. Professor of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University: Neurobiology of Visual and Circadian Systems in Brain The laboratory combines neurophysiological and molecular genetic approaches to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the daily biological clock and the adaptation of retinal circuitry to different levels of light and darkness.

Sukhbir Mokha, Ph.D. Professor of Anatomy & Physiology, Meharry Medical College: Neurobiology of spinal and trigeminal pain mechanisms The Mokha laboratory utilizes electrophysiological, molecular and behavioral approaches to explore the modulation of trigeminal nociception by neurotransmitter receptors and receptors for the endogenous ligand orphanin FQ.

Victor Pike, Ph.D. Chief, Section on PET Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, NIMH: Development and Refinement of Neuroimaging Tools The Pike group seeks to develop and implement new radioligands and radiotracers for the selective PET imaging of molecular targets in animal and human brain.

Daniel S. Pine, M.D. Chief, Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, NIMH: Neural Correlates of Development and Affective Diseases This section examines the relationships among brain development, emotion regulation, and risk for mood and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Aramandla Ramesh, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Division of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, Meharry Medical College: Neurotoxicology: Biological Fate of Environmental toxicants Research currently focuses on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their metabolites in brain tissues of animal models.

Elaine Sanders-Bush, Ph.D. Professor of Pharmacology and of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University: Pharmacology and Molecular Genetics of Serotonin Receptors in Mental Illness and Psychoactive Drug Actions The Sanders-Bush laboratory has a long-standing interest in the biochemistry and physiology of serotonin and its receptors, especially their role in behavior and brain disorders.

James S. Sutcliffe, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: Genetic Basis of Autism and Epilepsy The Sutcliffe laboratory studies the genetics of brain disorders, including autism and Alzheimer’s Disease.

James G. Townsel, Ph.D. Professor of Anatomy and Physiology, Meharry Medical College: Molecular Regulation of Cholinergic Signaling The Townsel laboratory is interested in the mechanisms that control the production and availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the activities of protein kinases in synaptic signaling, using the Limulus central nervous system as a model.

Brian E. Wadzinski, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Analysis of Protein Phosphatase Complexes Supporting Cell Signaling The Wadzinski laboratory explores the molecular control of protein phosphorylation that guides neural development, differentiation and signaling.

Edwin Weeber, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory Research in the Weeber laboratory focuses on understanding the role of Reelin and ApoE signaling in normal synaptic transmission and plasticity, the downstream signal transduction processes, and precisely how altered Reelin/ApoE signaling is associated with pathological states, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Ronald G. Wiley, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Neurology and Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Targeting and Inactivation of CNS Pathways The Wiley laboratory uses molecular neurosurgical techniques to bridge between molecular and systems neuroscience. The main approach is targeting biologically active substances to discrete neural populations based on vectors that recognize specific surface molecules.

Danny G. Winder, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University: Synaptic Plasticity in Learning and Addiction The Winder laboratory studies the molecular basis of drug-modulated synaptic plasticity using electrophysiological analysis of genetically altered mice.

Laurence G. Zwiebel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University: Molecular Basis of Olfactory Signal Transduction An overall focus of the Zwiebel laboratory is the isolation and characterization of genes involved in olfaction.

| Local Neuroscience Calendar | Vanderbilt Brain Institute | Meharry Medical College |
Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative
action Copyright © 2004, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Last Modified Sept 17th, 2007 by terri.ray@vanderbilt.edu