SUMMER RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEMBRANE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2008 NSF REU SITE PROGRAM at the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The Department of Biomedical Engineering, Colleges of Engineering & Medicine is pleased to offer this research project as part of the 2008 summer NSF-REU Site Program through the Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics.  Students interested in this project are encouraged to contact Professor Johnson to discover more about the project, learn what your responsibilities will be during the ten-week research training program.
Project #: 08 - 010 Faculty Supervisor/Mentor: Jeffrey D. Johnson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering Colleges of Engineering & Medicine Email:  Jeffrey.Johnson@uc.edu
Modeling the role of dopamine in Parkinson’s disease
General background and significance of the project: Developing a precise understanding brain function is critical in understanding learning, behavior, and neurological disease. The basal ganglia are a set of nuclei involved in many motor and cognitive functions and are the target of many neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. It is well-known that a loss of dopamine, a key neurochemical that acts on protein receptors embedded in bio-membranes of neuronal cells, is a characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.  However, the role that dopamine plays in normal brain function is not well known. In this project, we seek to develop a mathematical model that hypothesizes the role of dopamine, acting though its interactions with receptor proteins in the neuronal bio-membranes, in normal brain function and in Parkinson’s disease.
Brief description of proposed research and activities for the 10-week REU period: The REU student will contribute to the development of a mathematical model of the biophysical properties of neurons in the basal ganglia.  These studies will focus on understanding the role of dopamine in modulating specific ionic currents within the bio-membranes of medium spiny neurons. The studies will also include studying cognitive function in whole animals. Students will also be exposed to electrophysiology technologies and employ these in experimental designs. The specific research project features will depend on the REU student’s background and interests.
What the REU Student can gain from participating in this project: The REU trainee will be exposed to highly multidisciplinary research at the interface between neuroscience, mathematics, and computing. The studies will provide the REU trainee with exposure to basic science research within a context of its translation to important neurological disorders, e.g., Parkinson’s disease. Significant research contributions by the REU student will earn co-authorship in presentations and publications arising from the research.