Additional Titles & Roles
- Vice Chair for Research, Psychiatry
- Scientific Director, Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research
- Co-Chair, DBBS Curriculum Task Force
- Academy of Educators Steering Committee
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Training: State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, 1999
- PhD: Neurosciences: Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 1995
Major Awards
- Klingenstein Award in the Neurosciences, 1999
- NARSAD Young Investigator Award, 1999
- Graduate Student Mentorship Award, 2005
Research Interests
The broad aim of my research is to understand control of neuronal excitation and inhibition by neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. This is an important goal because neurotransmitter actions can be double-edged, underlying normal neurotransmission on the one hand and underlying dysfunction and neurotoxicity on the other. In one project we are exploring the cellular and synaptic responses to powerful neuromodulators that affect inhibition and excitation. These molecules may modulate normal and abnormal brain function endogenously but also represent targets for novel therapeutic approaches. Another project investigates the effect that astrocytes, a class of glial cell, have on neuronal development and function. Finally, we have been engineering a biosensor for the neurotransmitter dopamine, allowing us a unique perspective on the control of dopamine release. For our studies we use electrophysiological, molecular, and imaging techniques applied to simple culture preparations, to heterologous expression systems, and to intact brain slices.
Key Publications
- Paul SM, Doherty JJ, Robichaud AJ, Belfort GM, Chow BY, Hammond RS, Crawford DC, Linsenbardt AJ, Shu HJ, Izumi Y, Mennerick SJ, Zorumski CF (2013 Oct 30). The major brain cholesterol metabolite 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol is a potent allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. J Neurosci. 33(44): 17290-300.
Read publication »The major brain cholesterol metabolite 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol is a potent allosteric modulator of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. - Zorumski CF, Paul SM, Covey DF, Mennerick S, (2019 Nov). Neurosteroids as novel antidepressants and anxiolytics: GABA-A receptors and beyond. Neurobiol Stress. 11: 100196.
Read publication »Neurosteroids as novel antidepressants and anxiolytics: GABA-A receptors and beyond. - Sun MY, Ziolkowski L, Lambert P, Shu HJ, Keiser M, Rensing N, Warikoo N, Martinek M, Platnick C, Benz A, Bracamontes J, Akk G, Steinbach JH, Zorumski CF, Wong M, Mennerick S, (2019 11). Mild chronic perturbation of inhibition severely alters hippocampal function. Sci Rep. 9(1): 16431.
Read publication »Mild chronic perturbation of inhibition severely alters hippocampal function. - Read publication »Lack of Neurosteroid Selectivity at δ vs. γ2-Containing GABA(A) Receptors in Dentate Granule Neurons.
- Read publication »δ subunit-containing GABA(A) IPSCs are driven by both synaptic and diffusional GABA in mouse dentate granule neurons.
- Warikoo N, Brunwasser SJ, Benz A, Shu HJ, Paul SM, Lewis M, Doherty J, Quirk M, Piccio L, Zorumski CF, Day GS, Mennerick S, (2018 03). Positive Allosteric Modulation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis. J. Neurosci.. 38(13): 3218-3229.
Read publication »Positive Allosteric Modulation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.
Funded Research Projects
NIMH(Key Personnel):Oxysterols and NMDAR Function
Sage Therapeutics(PI):In Vitro for NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
NIMH(PI):Neurosteroids and Anxiety Related Network Function
NIMH(PI):Control of Synaptic Glutamate Release