Neuropharmacology Research
Faculty within the Pharmacology department working in the area of neuroscience and neuropharmacology focus their research in characterizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms which underlie neuronal function and survival. Because neuroscience/neuropharmacology 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 neuropharmacology 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
Jason Aoto
Associate Professor
Ph.D., 2009, Univ. of California, Berkeley
We are interested in dissecting the distinct functions of synaptic cell-adhesion molecules implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders and addiction in the context of disease-relevant brain circuits. Using cutting-edge multidisciplinary techniques, we are able to interrogate these molecules with cell-type and synapse-specific resolution.
K. Ulrich Bayer
Professor
Ph.D., 1996, Heinrich-Pette-Institute
Molecular mechanisms of bi-directional synaptic plasticity that underlie cognition. Strategies for restoring normal synaptic plasticity in neurological disorders.
Mark L. Dell'Acqua
Professor and Vice Chairman
Ph.D., 1995, Harvard Univ.
Organization of signaling complexes by protein kinase and phosphatase anchoring proteins; mechanisms regulating neuronal second messenger signaling in synaptic plasticity.
Chris P. Ford
Professor
Ph.D., 2003, Univ. of Alberta
We study synaptic mechanisms by which neuromodulators like dopamine and acetylcholine are encoded in mesolimbic and nigrostriatal circuits through GPCRs. We study the basic biology of these circuits and the alterations that occur in neurological and psychiatric diseases.
Matthew J. Kennedy
Associate Professor
Ph.D., 2003, Univ. of Washington
Molecular mechanisms of activity-triggered synaptic remodeling.
Tatiana G. Kutateladze
Professor
Ph.D., 1988, Moscow State Univ.
Epigenetics, phosphoinositide signaling, structural biology, NMR and crystal structures of proteins implicated in cancer, structure based drug design.
Justin O'Hare, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. 2017, Duke University
We study how individual neurons contribute to memory formation and storage. Using pyramidal neurons in mouse hippocampal area CA1 as a model system, we leverage molecular and systems neuroscience approaches to understand (1) how a neuron’s dendrites integrate synaptic inputs from multiple brain circuits and (2) how this information is lastingly stored to form new place fields.
Won Chan Oh
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. 2013, Univ. of California, Davis
We study molecular and cellular mechanisms of activity-dependent synaptic and circuit remodeling primarily through live-imaging approaches using two-photon microscopy and photostimulation in vivo and in brain slices, combined with electrophysiology and molecular genetic manipulations.
Katharine R. Smith
Associate Professor
Ph.D., 2010, University College London
Molecular mechanisms of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic plasticity.
Secondary Faculty
Timothy Benke
Professor
M.D. 1995, Baylor College of Medicine, PhD 1994, Baylor College of Medicine, MS 1989 Rice University
Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and impacts of development and epilepsy.
Fabrice Dabertrand
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., 2006, University of Bordeaux, France
The overall goal of our laboratory is to understand the control of cerebral blood flow by ion channels and calcium signaling in the pericytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells that constitute the parenchymal microcirculation, and use this information to combat brain diseases with a vascular component.