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A major focus of our research is regulation of glutamate receptors that play key roles in neuronal communication. Failure to regulate these receptors can cause seizure disorders and neurodegeneration such as, Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. We have identified proteins that control the movement and localization of these receptors at synapses with the aim of designing drugs that prevent neuronal death in disease states. We also study the mechanisms by which growth factors, such as IGF 1, promote neuronal development. Our work demonstrates that growth factors enhance the activity of L-type calcium channels to regulate dendritic branching, spine formation, and long-term survival.

I became interested in this line of research because I was interested in processes such as learning and memory. Receptors are key elements in the communication of neurons and by studying them we hope to understand at the molecular level how the brain functions.

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