Katy Gill receives a NIH National Research Service Award - December 1, 2009
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Katy Gill, a postdoc researcher in Dr. Anthony Grace's lab, has been awarded a three year NRSA grant, Amygdala Modulation of Hippocampus Accumbens Interaction Relevance to Depression, effective December 1, 2009.
Grant Awarded to Paul G. Middlebrooks - September 1, 2009
Congratulations go out to Paul G. Middlebrooks, a PhD student in Dr. Sommer's lab, who has been awarded an NIH National Research Service Award entitled The Neural Basis of Metacognition. Paul's two year proposal seeks to explore how the brain "thinks about thinking" to help understand how to treat patients with disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Grant Awarded to Dr. Sved - August 1, 2009
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Alan F. Sved has been awarded a new NSF grant, Viral Microdissection of Central Circuitry Integrating Autonomic Function . Along with Dr. J. Patrick Card, the three year project will examine the central neural circuitry controlling the autonomic nervous system.
Using recombinant strains of pseudorabies virus that express unique reporter genes, the central neural pathways connected to multiple peripheral tissues in rats will be traced. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining brain sites connected to both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, providing a potential circuitry for the coordinated regulation of these two divisions of the autonomic nervous system. As a specific component of this research program, undergraduate research assistants will be recruited to participate in these studies.
Grant Awarded to Dr. Grace - August 1, 2009
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Dr. Anthony A. Grace, has been awarded a two-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effective August 1, 2009, and entitled, Stress-Induced Alterations in Amygdala-LC Interactions. By gaining a better understanding of the neurobiological consequences of adaptive responses, the project hopes to uncover the neurophysiological changes that take place within the limbic system that predisposes an individual to drug-taking behavior and contribute to relapse.
Grant Awarded to Dr. Moghaddam - July 1, 2009
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Bita Moghaddam has been awarded a new NIH grant, Inhibitory Control of Prefrontal Cortex. Awarded for five years, the $2 million dollar proposal examines prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction as a fundamental aspect of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Grant Awarded to Dr. Rinaman - June 20, 2009
Dr. Linda Rinaman has been awarded a competing continuation grant for project, Central Viscerosensory Circuits - Structure and Function. The five year project will test hypotheses about the structure and function of interconnected regions of the hypothalamus and limbic forebrain. Experimental outcomes could lead to the development of new therapeutic options for treating stress-related emotional pathologies.
Neuroscience in the News
Vaccines for drug addiction show promise
Los Angele Times – October 6, 2009
Vaccines to help people recover from such addictions as nicotine, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines now appear scientifically and medically achievable after doctors reported that a vaccine to treat cocaine dependence had produced a large enough antibody response to reduce cocaine use in 38% of addicted individuals.
Brain Is a Co-Conspirator in a Vicious Stress Loop
The New York Times - August 18
Chronic stress changes the brain, but relaxation can change it back.
Visualizing schizophrenia
New York Times – June 13, 2008
Times Essential: Expert Q&A with Paul Thompson. Paul Thompson is professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and leads the research group at the school’s Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. He uses imaging technology to map disease processes involving the human brain, carried out in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and more than 40 laboratories around the world. A goal is to create disease-specific atlases of the brain that can aid in the diagnosis, treatment and possible prevention of illnesses like schizophrenia.
