Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2006

Mentor: Craig M. Powell, M.D., Ph.D.
Department: Neurology (joint appointment in Psychiatry)
Room number: ND4.502A
Mail Code: 8813
Phone number: 214-645-6251
E-mail: craig.powell@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Recording Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal Brain Slices

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0941-05-01-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) animal-based basic research

Brief Description of Project:

The goal of this project is to record hippocampal synaptic responses, successfully record hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity, and to examine long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of a group of knockout versus wild-type mouse hippocampi. It is expected that the student will assist in setting up computer data acquisition of synaptic recordings as well as computer-driven stimulation of inputs in hippocampal slice recordings. Once this is up and running, several trial experiments to induce synaptic plasticity will be performed. If the student performs exceptionally well, he will be allowed to study synaptic plasticity in knockout mice.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Summer Medical Student Research Program:

James Kim (Berkley undergraduate) 2004 & 2005 ' Publication in Revision for JBC
Kendall Walters (UTSW Medical Student ' Switched to M.D./Ph.D. program after summer establishing postsynaptic density preparations in my laboratory 2005

Other Summer Students:
Divya Balasubramanian (TAMS student) 2004' Learning and Memory Behavioral Studies ' SMU undergraduate
Ricky Patel (TAMS student) 2005
Sai Balasubramanian (Plano High School student) 2005' 1st place in Texas State Science Fair (scholarship and $300 cash award)

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