Biomedical Seminar Series

Jason Shepherd, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Utah. 

Research Summary
Synaptic plasticity, memory encoding, experience-dependent plasticity in visual cortex and neurological disorders. 
Brains have an amazing ability to learn and store information for long periods, in some cases a lifetime. In particular, the enduring nature of memory remains a mystery, despite intensive study. How does information storage remain stable for years, despite constant protein modification and turnover? Moreover, disorders of memory and cognition affect millions of people and are generally intractable to treatment. A major challenge in neuroscience is to understand how neuronal networks are modified through experience and how proteins/genes contribute to circuit modification. However, answering these fundamental questions requires many levels of analysis: from molecular interactions to complex cognition. Clearly, a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach is required. The fascinating and challenging aspect of neuroscience is to bridge these gaps of analysis and be able to synthesize work coming from disparate areas of research.

His lab is interested in elucidating the fundamental cellular and molecular processes that underlie memory formation. In particular we are interested in the elucidation of the protein machinery at the synapse that governs long-term storage of information, and how basic cell biological processes have been elaborated in neurons for the purpose of modulating synaptic transmission. In addition, they are interested in how these processes go awry in neurological diseases.

If you are interested in a one-on-one meeting with Shepherd, please sign up here.

Questions? Contact Breezy Tottenhoff.