RAABGRAHAMLAB.COM

Our experimental approach ranges from molecules to behavior. We use unbiased approaches of mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing, to identify proteins and RNA near synapses. We develop assays to visualize protein synthesis in dendrites. These assays allow us to determine how newly synthesized proteins contribute to site-specific changes in synaptic efficacy. Our findings provide insight into dynamic changes in ion channel expression, function, and behavior across animal models of disease, including depression, epilepsy, autism, and alcohol use disorder. While we have established our molecular understanding of these diseases in mouse models, we plan to extend our studies to include nonhuman primates and humans at Wake Forest School of Medicine... The ability to learn and encode memory relies on changes in proteins that are expressed at or near synapses - sites of communication among brain cells (neurons). My laboratory seeks to understand the biological processes that underlie learning..

Primary location: Winston-salem United States