Drs. Ana Pocivavsek and Norma Frizzell
Published a collaborative study demonstrating parental genetics can shape brain development in sex-specific ways.
Our mission is to provide expert instruction and conduct innovative research in neuroscience, physiology and pharmacology. Our faculty members teach students of medicine, nurse anesthesia, physician assistants and biomedical science in the classroom and the laboratory.
Featured Publications
Some recent work conducted by our faculty, students and alumni.
Drs. Claudia Grillo and Nick Maxwell
Published a paper showing the impact of leptin on the serotonergic system in the brain and how this regulates feeding behavior. Maxwell was a PPN Graduate Student and now a postdoctoral fellow at Duke School of Medicine.
MD/PhD student David Horovitz
Memory loss isn’t inevitable - a new study from the McQuail Lab, led by Horovitz, reveals that inhibitory synapses help some brains age better.
Faculty Research
Our dedicated faculty are leaders in research. Their work is published in high-tier journals such as Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Biological Psychiatry, Molecular Psychiatry, Brain, Behavior & Immunity, PLoS One, Journal of Neuroscience, Diabetes, Neuroscience, Nanotechnology, Psychopharmacology and Experimental Neurology.
- Chronic stress, depression and cognition: Larry Reagan, James Fadel, Susan Wood, Marlene Wilson, Joe McQuail
- Mitochondrial function in stress, anxiety and depression: Fiona Hollis
- The fear circuit and PTSD: Marlene Wilson, James Fadel, Larry Reagan, David Mott, Susan Wood, Aaron Jasnow
- Neurochemistry of stress: James Fadel, Claudia Grillo, Aaron Jasnow, Larry Reagan, Marlene Wilson
- Mitochondrial stress and protein modifications: Norma Frizzell, Gerardo Piroli
- Hippocampal dysregulation in depression: Larry Reagan, Claudia Grillo
- Individual differences in stress responses and cardiovascular disease: Aaron Jasnow, Susan Wood, Marlene Wilson
- Sleep deprivation and stress: Ana Pocivavsek
- Neuroanatomy of stress and emotion brain centers: James Fadel, Larry Reagan, Aaron Jasnow, David Mott
- Sex differences in stress, anxiety and depression: Susan Wood, Aaron Jasnow, Marlene Wilson
- Protein modifications in diabetes: Norma Frizzell, Gerardo Piroli
- Neural basis for the co-morbidity of obesity and depression: Larry Reagan, Claudia Grillo
- Hippocampal dysfunction in metabolic syndrome: Larry Reagan
- Homeostatic changes in aging: James Fadel
- Serotonergic mechanisms in obesity: Claudia Grillo, Larry Reagan, James Fadel
- Hypothalamus and homeostasis: James Fadel, Larry Reagan, Claudia Grillo
- Brain mitochondrial disorders: Norma Frizzell, Gerardo Piroli, Fiona Hollis
- Metabolic disorders and neural aging: Joe McQuail
- Novel therapeutic targets for neurodevelopmental diseases and aging: James Fadel, Larry Reagan.
- Basal forebrain cholinergic system in aging: James Fadel
- Cognitive impairments and sleep dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders: Ana Pocivavsek
- Cognitive deficits in depression and diabetes: Larry Reagan, Claudia Grillo
- Neuropeptides, aging and cognition: James Fadel
- Protein modifications and mitochondrial stress in Parkinson’s disease: Norma Frizzell, Gerardo Piroli
- Amygdalar functional neuroanatomy and cognition: Aaron Jasnow, David Mott, Marlene Wilson
- Molecular mechanisms of age-related cognitive decline: Joe McQuail
- Neuroimmune changes induced by chronic psychosocial stress: Susan Wood, CS Wood
- Neuroimmune changes in Gulf War Illness: Larry Reagan, Claudia Grillo, CS Wood, Susan Wood, James Fadel
- Neuroinflammation and kynurenine pathway metabolism with sleep loss: Ana Pocivavsek
- Functional properties of GABAA and glutamate receptors: David Mott
- GABAA receptor modulators in seizure disorders: David Mott
- Glutamate receptors in epileptogenesis: David Mott
- Cardiovascular control: L. Britt Wilson
- Cell-based screening assays for drug discovery: Kenneth Walsh
- Cardiovascular changes in depression and anxiety disorders: Susan Wood, Larry Reagan, Marlene Wilson, L. Britt Wilson
- Neuropeptide regulation of anxiety and alcohol consumption: Marlene Wilson, James Fadel
- Novel screening tools for G-protein linked receptors including opioid receptors: Kenneth Walsh