Team Leader
Debanjana Das
Texas A&M University Health Science Center
Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics
debanjana@tamu.edu
Project Type
Research
Who Can Join
Masters Students, Undergraduate Students
Project Description
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the fastest growing neurological disease in the US, characterized by classical motor symptoms such as slowness of movement, rigidity, shuffling short gait, and tremors. Sleep disruptions are a major non-motor symptom of clinical PD and they develop years before any of the motor symptoms arise. We look at interactions between dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain and astrocytes, the most abundant class of glial cells, to understand how these regulate dopamine release in the striatum. This will help us understand how pathological interactions between dopaminergic neurons and astrocytes in the midbrain lead to the development of PD. Further, we look at how loss of serotonin is associated with the evolution of non-motor symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
Team Needs
Comfortable with handling laboratory mice (prior experience preferred, but training can be provided);
Able to commit to regular lab hours;
Able to work with strict deadlines;
Open to sophomores and juniors (preference given to students with at least 1–2 years remaining before graduation);
Prior coursework in neuroscience, physiology, or research methods preferred
Special Opportunities
exploring the exciting new field of glial biology, oral and poster presentations at symposiums, hands-on experience with animal handling, experience with complex data analysis softwares/techniques