Research Categories - Central Nervous System

Understanding the workings of the CNS represents a new frontier in biological research. Researchers from several departments and institutes, including the Departments of Neurobiology, Pathology, and Cell Biology, the New England Primate Research Center, and the HMS Osher Institute, are investigating a wide range of CNS-related projects, including neuronal function, axon guidance, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, glioblastoma, and psychological disorders such as anxiety and drug abuse.

Related Investigators

  1. Bruce Bean, PhD

    Neuronal electrical signaling, ion channels, pacemaking, and neuropharmacology

    Investigate the electrical firing and physiology of neuronal ion channels

  2. Samara Reck-Peterson, PhD

    Intracellular cargo movement: the role of molecular motors

    Explore the role of dynein in molecular cargo transport

  3. James Rowlett, PhD

    Anxiety, addiction, cognition, and sleep: pharmacotherapy, GABA receptor

    Investigate the neuropharmacological basis of psychiatric disease and addiction, employing behavioral methodologies and translational approaches.  Primary areas of research include anxiety, ...

  4. Yang Shi, PhD

    Histone demethylation and gene regulation: gene expression; epigenetics; disease

    Studies on lysine-specific demethylases and biochemical and functional aspects of histone demethylation.  

  5. Roger Spealman, PhD

    CNS disorders: addiction; Parkinson’s disease

    Studies on the mechanisms and efficacy of psychoactive drugs  

  6. Bruce Yankner, MD, PhD

    Molecular mechanisms of aging and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases

    Explore aging at the molecular level, employing a systems biology approach

  7. Wei-Dong Yao, PhD

    Dopamine signaling; synaptic plasticity; neurobiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders

  8. Gary Yellen, PhD

    Ion channel structure and function; epilepsy; fluorescent biosensors

    Study the function of ion channels, such as  the voltage-dependent K+ and pacemaker channels; explore the molecular basis of dietary therapy for epileptic seizures.