Faculty are listed by Department within their Research Areas,
with descriptions of their active projects.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

PAUL B. COOK
Assistant Professor of Biology; PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Processing of visual signals by the vertebrate retina involves interactions between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, the strength of which varies according to several parameters including the spatial properties of the cells and the temporal characteristics of their signals. In addition many of these interactions are modulated during changes in adaptational state such as the change in gap junction coupling between horizontal cells, or the responsiveness of retinal neurons to the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate.

In order to understand these interactions, my laboratory employs several techniques including whole cell patch-clamp from retinal neurons in the flat mount/isolated retina and in the retinal slice preparations. Synaptic inputs can be elicited with stimuli such as patterned and random light stimuli, focal electrical stimulation of the retinal circuitry, and focal application of analogues, agonists, and antagonists.

Computational models of neural function will complement the physiological studies. Particularly significant questions include the effects of anatomical constraints of the cells comprising specialized retinal circuits, effects of electrical coupling between neurons, the functional role of pre- and postsynaptic inhibition on shaping the temporal and spatial responses of cells, and the effects of modulation of synaptic inputs on retinal processing.

For more information regarding Paul B. Cook's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/biology/Faculty_Staff/cook.html

VINCENT E. DIONNE
Professor of Biology; PhD, University of Arizona

Chemosensory physiology: research on the cellular mechanisms underlying the detection and discrimination of odors by olfactory receptor neurons in vertebrates. Electrophysiological, anatomical, histochemical, and molecular biological techniques are used in the laboratory.

For more information regarding Vincent E. Dionne's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/biology/Faculty_Staff/vdionne.html

JEN-WEI LIN
Professor of Biology; PhD, SUNY—Buffalo

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter secretion.
Neurotransmitter secretion is a complicated process that involves ion channel gating and secretion steps. In addition, the mobilization and recycling of synaptic vesicles are needed to maintain the function of a synapse and to contribute to synaptic plasticity. Ultimately, an understanding of the secretory events means that one can establish a kinetic scheme for this multi-step process and identify molecules responsible for each step. Therefore, a combined electrophysiological and molecular approach is used in my laboratory to investigate these questions.

For more information regarding Jen-Wei Lin's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/biology/Faculty_Staff/jenwelin.html

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DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

JOHN A. WHITE
Associate Professor; Biomedical Engineering; PhD,
Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. White's interests focus on the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of ion channels and how these properties shape neuronal firing properties and information transmission in the mammalian brain. Electrophysiological, imaging, dynamical systems, and computer modeling techniques are applied. Engineering efforts within Dr. White's lab include design of high-speed systems for real-time control in biological experiments.

For more information regarding John A. White's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://www.bu.edu/dbin/bme/faculty

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PHYSICS: MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

KENNETH J. ROTHSCHILD
Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physiology;
Director, Molecular Biophysics Laboratory and Molecular
Biophysics Training Program; PhD, MIT

Research in the Molecular Biophysics Laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism of membrane protein-based receptors and ion transport pumps. For this purpose, we are developing advanced spectroscopic methods based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), resonance Raman spectroscopy, and laser flash spectroscopy. Systems under investigation in our laboratory include the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a key component in neurotransmission; rhodopsin, the receptor in vision and bacteriorhodopsin, a light-driven proton pump. Our research also involves the development of new in vitro and recombinant DNA methods for the site-directed incorporation of isotope-labeled and non-native amino acids in proteins.

For more information regarding Kenneth J. Rothschild's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://physics.bu.edu/rothschild.html

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PHARMACOLOGY

DAVID H. FARB
Professor and Chairman of Pharmacology; PhD, Brandeis University

Abnormal activation of amino acid receptors has been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, as well as of seizure disorders. Ongoing studies in the Farb lab provide a strong foundation for constructing models of steroid hormone interactions with excitatory and inhibitory amino acid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This knowledge may lead to new strategies for the treatment of psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Although there is widespread medical and nonmedical use (and abuse) of steroids, there is very little information concerning the long-term effects of steroid exposure on the central nervous system. Rational drug design in conjunction with structural computational chemistry will be used to understand ligand receptor and DNA transcription factor recognition.

Dr. Farb's lab studies focuses on the mechanism of action of neuromodulators and on the structure, function, and cellular dynamics of amino acid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Amino acid receptor function can be controlled by direct modulation of receptor function on the time scale of milliseconds to seconds and by regulation of receptor expression by genomic mechanisms. The role of neuroactive steroids in the control of GABA, glycine, and glutamate (NMDA and non-NMDA) receptors is being investigated using a multidisciplinary approach that includes the techniques of molecular biology, patch-clamp neurophysiology, cell biology, and molecular neuroanatomy. We have isolated segments of DNA from the human genome that contain the genetic blueprint for the production of GABA receptors. By determining the sequences for the regions of the gene that control its expression, we hope to be able to identify receptor-specific transcription factors and to design new classes of therapeutic agents that may act by regulating the expression of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain.

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PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS

M. CARTER CORNWALL
Professor; PhD, University of Utah

The Cornwall laboratory studies the mechanisms of visual transduction that relate to light- and dark-adaptation in the vertebrate retina. Specific areas of study are: mechanisms of visual pigment regeneration and dark adaptation of rods and cones; retinoid transport during light and dark adaptation; role of interphotoreceptor matrix retinoid binding protein (IRBP); calcium homeostasis during light- and dark-adaptation. Techniques used routinely in the lab are: extracellular single-cell electrical recordings of rods and cones, microspectrophotometry of visual pigments, whole-cell voltage clamp recording (in collaboration with Dr. Hugh Matthews, University of Cambridge, England), and single-cell confocal calcium imaging (in collaboration with Dr. Gordon Fain, UCLA).

For more information regarding Carter Cornwall's research and publications, please click on the following link:
http://biophysics.bumc.bu.edu/faculty/cornwall/index.html

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