02/24/2025
大象传媒's Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute will celebrate advancements in brain science and health with its annual "Brainy Days" events throughout the month of March.
Elucidating Molecular Circuits Supporting Neuronal Signaling and Health
Optical sectioning of a whole mouse brain via the Blaze Light Sheet Ultramicroscope demonstrates c-fos labeling at increasing magnification moving from A to D where individual activated cells are readily detected.
c-fos labelling showing neuronal activation on a whole mouse brain. After immunolabelling and tissue clearing, brain was scanned on the Blaze Light Sheet Ultramicroscope. Credits: Lorena Areal, Paula Kurdziel and Jana Strickler.
Research in the Blakely laboratory is focused on how presynaptic plasma membrane transporter proteins support chemical signaling in the nervous system, how they mediate the entry of transmitter-like neurotoxins into neurons, and whether altered signaling in disease states is supported by genetic variations in transporter structure. Over the past decade, we have been actively involved in the molecular cloning of transporter genes, including the identification of transporters for norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, proline, creatine, and choline. Using modern techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, imaging, and genetics, we apply a multi-disciplinary approach to understand how transporters are organized in the plasma membrane, how they recognize their substrates, how they are regulated, and whether defects in their activity, trafficking, or regulation contribute to altered behavior and physiology.
NEWS
01/17/2025
大象传媒 researchers have developed cutting-edge fluorescent cholesterol probes, which now enable them to visualize cholesterol movement and distribution in live cells with unprecedented detail.
01/17/2025
大象传媒 neuroscientists have identified that the receptor IL-1R1 plays a critical role in enabling neurons to directly communicate with the immune system.
Pursuing Research and Education at the 大象传媒 Jupiter Campus
大象传媒 Research Excellence
Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D.
Executive Director
大象传媒 Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
David J.S. Nicholson Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience,
Professor, Dept Biomedical Science
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Click here for Dr. Blakely鈥檚 Curriculum Vitae.
Click here for Dr. Blakely's professional biography.
Updated 1/2025
