Neuroscience Research
Faculty within the Pharmacology department working in the area of neuroscience focus their research in characterizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms which underlie neuronal function and survival. Because neuroscience is an increasingly integrative discipline, research at UCD utilizes many different core facilities and crosses departmental boundaries. One of the strengths of our faculty lies in the fact that they have experience in a number of different scientific disciplines.
Specific areas of neuroscience research at UCD includes the study of molecular memory and synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival and apoptosis, neuronal signal transduction, and neuropharmacology. In addition the pharmacology faculty has a particularly strong interest in the neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse.
Primary Faculty
Bayer, K. Ulrich Molecular memory mechanisms in cellular signal transduction and neuronal function; CaMKII and Ca2+ signaling
Browning, Michael D. Molecular mechanisms of neuronal function with particular emphasis on protein phosphorylation
Dell'Acqua, Mark L. Organization of signaling complexes by protein kinase and phosphatase anchoring proteins; mechanisms regulating neuronal second messenger signaling in synaptic plasticity
Heidenreich, Kim A. Signal transduction pathways that regulate neuronal survival and apoptosis
Hoffman, Paula L. Neuropharmacology; mechanisms of alcohol tolerance, dependence, and craving; genetic aspects of alcohol dependence and affective disorders; biochemical/molecular biological/genetic analysis of CNS receptors and signal transduction systems
Sather, William A. Structural basis of calcium channel function, including selective ion permeability and neuromodulation of channel gating
Sikela, James M. Neurogenomics; disease gene discovery; human genome evolution and variation
Tabakoff, Boris Molecular pharmacology; pharmacogenetics; neuroadaptation and neurotransmitter metabolism/enzymology; CNS receptor molecular pharmacology and genetics/genomics of addiction
Zahniser, Nancy R. Regulation of dopamine transporters; mechanisms underlying cocaine’s actions; neurotransmitter receptors and release in brain
Secondary Faculty
Freed, Curt R. The dynamic role of dopamine in movement; neural transplantation for Parkinson’s disease
Krushel, Leslie A. Mechanisms and regulation of protein synthesis in the nervous system with a focus on the understanding of translation in learning and memory and disease states
Leonard, Sherry S. Molecular neurobiology of nicotine addiction in mental illness