Cardiovascular Physiology/Circulation

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University

EDUCATION:
• PhD University of Texas Medical Branch
• MS San Diego State University
• BS University of California, Irvine

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
• Biophysical Society (elected)
• American Physiological Society (elected)
• Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation Section (member)
• Cardiovascular Section (elected fellow)
• Society for Neuroscience (elected)

HONORS:
• Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine Faculty Excellence in Education Award for 2002-03
• 2011 John A Resko Faculty Research Achievement and Mentoring Award, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Our work deals with a portion of the brain that regulates vital organ function called the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Afferents from vital organs (e.g. heart, lungs, gut) directly contact the brain at NTS. Our major technical focus is electrophysiology (patch clamp recording) of neurons in slices. We selectively activate single afferent axons that synapse on the recorded cell for quantal analysis of neurotransmitter release. We use fluorescent tracers to identify neurons. Fluorescence microscopy enables identification of specific cell types. Projects include use dependent depression of sensory synaptic transmission, accessory co-transmission (ATP, purines, peptides), and a unique form of vanilloid receptor (TRPV1) driven synaptic transmission. We are interested in roles played by intrinsic differences in myelinated and unmyelinated axons that influence information transfer to the CNS.