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Neuroscience Faculty

All of our faculty members have active research programs and are involved in graduate student training.

Feel free to contact any of our Neuroscience Program faculty listed below by clicking on the link to their email address.

NameEmailCampusSpecialty
Kenneth Boyd Bakerbakerk6@ccf.orgCCF
Joseph Bedontjbedont@kent.eduKentsleep; circadian rhythms; metabolism; behavioral homeostasis and adaptation; neurodegeneration. More on Bedont
Lynn Bekrisbekrisl@ccf.orgCCFIdentifying and evaluating the functional impact of genetic and epigenetic factors in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. 
Cornelia Bergmannbergmac@ccf.orgCCFImmune responses to viral infections in the central nervous system. 
Heather Caldwellhcaldwel@kent.eduKentNeuropeptide regulation of social behaviors and neuropyschiatric disorders. More on Caldwell
Wilson Chungwchung@kent.eduKentNeuroendocrine brain, androgens, fibroblast growth factor signaling. More on Chung
Robert Clementsrclement@kent.eduKent
Lique Coolenjcoolen@kent.eduKentMechanisms by which spinal cord injury affects urogenital and sexual function, neurobiology of addiction and understanding neural circuits that mediate female reproductive function and dysfunction. More on Coolen
Samuel Crishscrish@neomed.eduNEOMEDGlaucoma, axonal transport, structures and functions.
Hod Danadanah@ccf.orgCCF
Altaf Darveshadarvesh@neomed.eduNEOMEDDevelopment of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies for neoplastic an neurodegenerative diseases, as well as psychiatric disorders.
Dimitrios Davalosdavalod@ccf.orgCCFThe Dimitrios Davalos lab studies the interactions between blood vessels, neurons and microglia in health and disease.
Christine Dengler-Crishccrish@neomed.eduNEOMEDEarly disease mechanisms in dementia; sensory system disruptions and homestatic dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease. 
Tara DeSilvadesilvt@ccf.orgCCF
Ranjan Duttaduttar@ccf.orgCCFWe investigate the role of myelin forming cells and their dysfunction in neurological diseases. 
David Escobar Sanabriaescobad2@ccf.orgCCF 
Sheila Flemingsfleming1@neomed.eduNEOMED
Alexander Galazyukagalaz@neomed.eduNEOMEDNeuroscience of hearing, critical role of timing in sound processing.
Rebecca Germanrgerman@neomed.eduNEOMEDNeurophysiology and biomechanics.  Regulation of feeding and pathophysiology of dysphagia.
T. Lee Gilmanlgilman1@kent.eduKentInfluences of diet, stress and genetic variation on emotions, behavior, and overall brain & body health.  More on Gilman.
Adam Goodwillagoodwill@neomed.eduNEOMEDMechanisms of coronary flow control, studies of cardiac function and identification of cardioprotective pathways.
Julia Jones Huyckjhuyck@kent.eduKentMore on Huyck
John D. Johnsonjjohns72@kent.eduKentNeural-immune interactions, brain cytokines, mood, behavior, stress and immunity. More on Johnson
Woo-Yang Kimwkim2@kent.eduKentBrain development, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, intellectual disability, brain circuit, neural stem cell. More on Kim
Michael Lehmanmlehma18@kent.eduKentReproductive neuroendocrine system of the brain in mammals as governed by intricate neural and hormonal communication between the brain, pituitary gland and gonads.  More on Lehman
Antoine Louveaulouveaa@ccf.orgCCF
Yong Luylu@neomed.eduNEOMEDNeurotransmitter systems, GABA, glutamate, audition.
William Lynchwonk@neomed.eduNEOMEDMechanisms of neurodegeneration, CNS gene therapy, RNA tumor virus pathogenesis, microglia development.
Ryota Matsuokamatsuor@ccf.orgCCFDevelopmental neuroscience, brain barriers, brain-blood communications, brain vascular cell heterogeneity, neurovascular morphogenesis, and cerebrovascular diseases. 
Jennifer McDonoughjmcdonou@kent.eduKentRegenerative medicine, mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic mechanisms in multiple sclerosis. 
Jeffrey Mellottjmellott@neomed.eduNEOMEDAge-related changes to inhibitory circuitry in the auditory pathways. 
Eric Mintzemintz@kent.eduKentBehavioral neurobiology, circadian rhythms, feeding, and social behavior, sex differences in biological rhythms. More on Mintz
Aleisha Mooreamoor149@kent.eduKentThe Moore lab aims to define and understand neuronal networks regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the final output cells in the brain controlling fertility. Currently, we are funded by the National Institutes of Health to investigate whether changes in the regulation of GnRH neurons by cells co-expressing the neuropeptides Kisspeptin, Neurokinin B and Dynorphin (aka KNDy neurons) leads to infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrinopathy in women worldwide. To achieve this, we use a preclinical model of PCOS combined with genetic, anatomical, and functional tools to identify and analyze how changes within KNDy neurons and associated networks lead to the development of PCOS symptoms.
Devin Muellerdmuell10@kent.eduKentNeural mechanisms of learning and memory that underlie drug use and emotional regulation. More on Mueller
Bruna Mussoibmussoi@kent.eduKentAge-related changes in speech perception, auditory electrophysiology, effects of cognition.  More on Mussoi
Colleen Novakcnovak13@kent.eduKentNeural and endocrine mechanisms of thermogenesis in obesity. More on Novak
Moses Oyewumimoyewumi@neomed.eduNEOMEDDrug delivery, nanotechnology, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases. 
Nikhil Panickerpanickn@ccf.orgCCF
Richard Pietrpiet@kent.eduKentNeurophysiological mechanisms involved in regulating the activity of the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons and their contributions to biological timing and fertility. More on Piet
Gunnar Poplawskipoplawg@ccf.orgCCFTranslational therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, stem cell and gene therapies for spinal cord injury, in vitro and in vivo models of glioblastomas, hIPSC derived neurons to study regeneration. 
Mary Ann Raghantimraghant@kent.eduKentComparative neurobiology, evolution, cognition, behavior. More on Raghanti
Erin Reed-Geaghanereedgeaghan@neomed.eduNEOMEDMy lab is interested in the role of the immune system in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Specifically, we seek to understand the ways in which the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia, contribute to the neuroinflammatory processes driving neurodegeneration. We believe microglia from men and women respond differently in AD, contributing to the sex differences in disease onset and progression, and we’re working on identifying the reasons for these differences. We are also interested in how these cells communicate with the circulating peripheral immune system, and the ways in which these interactions affect disease progression.
Angela Ridgelaridgel@kent.eduKentMotor functions, Parkinsons disease, rehabilitation. More on Ridgel
Merri Rosenmrosen@neomed.eduNEOMEDEffects of developmental stress and hearing loss on auditory perception and neural circuity. 
Brett Schofieldbschofie@neomed.eduNEOMEDFunctional anatomy of auditory pathways.
Sharad Shanbhagsshanbhag@neomed.eduNEOMEDThe amygdala's role in vocal communication. 
Ronald Seeserseese@akronchildrens.orgNEOMED
Woo-Shik Shin (Austin)wshin@neomed.eduNEOMEDNovel combination antibacterial therapy against drug resistance ESKAPE pathogens. Drug repurposing and combinational approach to block abnormal protein aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease. Our lab focuses on computational structure-based drug design and drug delivery system for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other degenerative disorders. Current research is driven by two key topics: How to develop new therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative and other brain diseases? How to design the blood-brain barrier shuttle peptides with neuronal specificity? 
Matthew Smithmsmith13@neomed.eduNEOMED
Hoonkyo Suhsuhh2@ccf.orgCCFIn the adult hippocampus, new neurons are continuously generated and integrated into neural circuits. This brain plasticity or brain remodeling process is essential for cognitive, emotional, social, and addictive behaviors. The major goal of the Suh lab’s research is to understand how precise production and connection of newborn neurons contributes to cognition, emotion, and addiction and how disrupted plasticity (remodeling process) leads to major deficits in learning and memory and emotional stability. By using the state of art methods such as virus-mediated neural circuit mapping, Ca2+ imaging and multimodal MRI, and genetic manipulation to control neural circuits (DREADD and Optogenetics), we are dedicated to research to understand anatomy and function of neural circuits that are formed by newborn neurons in the adult brain, with a hope that hippocampal neurogenesis may serve as neural substrate and target to understand and treat brain conditions that have cognitive, emotional, social, and addictive impairments.
Bruce Trapptrappb@ccf.orgCCF
Sean Veneysveney@kent.eduKentBehavioral neuroendocrinology, sexual differentiation of the brain, syrinx anatomy, neuroethology of birdsong. More on Veney
Jeffrey Wenstrupjjw@neomed.eduNEOMEDNeural mechanisms of hearing and acoustic communication, including emotional responses to sound.
Jessica Williamswilliaj39@ccf.orgCCF
Bradley Wintersbwinters@neomed.eduNEOMEDCellular neurophysiology of brainstem sound localization circuits that process timing and intensity differences between the two ears.