Genetic testing has greatly advanced diagnosis of early onset epilepsy. In spite of the expanding number of monogenetic disorders, such as epilepsy in patients with Aristaless-related homeobox gene (ARX) mutations, many of these rare diseases do not have a validated experimental model and thus suffer from limited understanding of the mechanisms of brain development and epileptogenesis. ARX is a transcription factor which is widely expressed in the developing and adult brain, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and testes.

Cell-type specific manipulation of neural circuits is required for the treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Precise control of neural circuits will enable the development of neuromodulation therapies for these debilitating conditions. Existing technologies to control neural activity offer limited possibilities.

Mechanisms guiding the precise wiring of neural circuits promote the development of our brain and define the function of neural networks. This wiring process continues even in the adult nervous system; adult-born neurons are incorporated into existing circuits, and connections are repaired or reconfigured after injury. In the case of the peripheral taste system, rewiring after taste receptor cell turnover is a process that continues throughout life.

B cell-depleting therapies using anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies have been successful for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS); however, B cell-depletion showed incomplete efficacy for the treatment of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune conditions, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO), most likely because of the failure to eliminate autoantibody-producing long-lived plasma cells (PCs).

Basic Research

Our Phase 1 aim is to use the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System (RTSS) to develop a streamlined version of the SCORE treatment protocol (Core-SCORE) through consultation with therapists who participated in the original SCORE study and subject matter experts. The Core-SCORE treatment protocol identified in Phase 1 will then be evaluated as part of a research study involving Service Member s and Veterans with mTBI in Phase 2 of the project.

The Integrated Graduate Program in Neuroscience at UTHSCSA provides training in a range of neuroscientific research areas and approaches, from molecular, cellular, and neurochemical to systems, behavioral and clinical neuroscience.

Cognitive impairment has a serious detrimental impact on the quality of life for prostate cancer survivorstreated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Neuroimaging studies have shown structural and functionaldeficits in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus (Hipp), which mediate higher order cognitiveprocesses, including cognitive flexibility and spatial cognition, that are impaired after ADT. In this project, we willinvestigate mechanisms that underly the cognitive impairments we have now shown to be induced by androgendeprivation in rats.