Stanford University
Showing 601-610 of 666 Results
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Kimberley Tolias
Professor (Research) of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur brains are composed of billions of neurons interconnected by trillions of synaptic connections into functional networks that enable us to perceive, think, feel, and act. Neurons form circuits during development through a series of steps, including cell migration, the growth and targeting of axons and dendrites, and the formation and refinement of synapses, which mediate communication between neurons. Synapses continue to remodel throughout our lives, underpinning our ability to learn and remember. When synapses or neural circuits fail to form or function properly, the impact can be profound, resulting in disorders like intellectual disability, autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Maladaptive synaptic circuit remodeling can also cause conditions like chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. The long-term goal of research in the Tolias laboratory is to understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern neural circuit formation and plasticity in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and to harness this knowledge to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat CNS disorders. Using a multidisciplinary toolkit, the laboratory investigates (1) how neurons sense extracellular cues and convert them into intracellular signals that drive synapses development and plasticity, dendritic/axon growth, and cell migration, (2) how dysregulation of these processes contributes to various CNS disorders, and (3) whether targeting specific signaling pathways can promote recovery following CNS injury or disease.
Current Projects:
- Defining how Rho GTPase signaling pathways regulate synapse development, dendritic and axonal morphogenesis, cell migration, and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity during learning and memory
- Determining how Adhesion-GPCRs control dendritic development, synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neural circuit function
- Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chronic pain, opioid tolerance, and chronic pain-associated mood and cognitive disorders
- Developing approaches to visualize and map memory-related synaptic remodeling at single synapse resolution
- Identifying therapeutic strategies that promote recovery and circuit repair following CNS injury and disease through targeting Rho GTPase signaling pathways
- Investigating synaptic mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction following radiotherapy and other CNS injuries
- Exploring how the gut microbiome influences brain development, synaptic function, neural circuit plasticity, and behavior -
Andrea Traynor
Clinical Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
BioI completed my training at Stanford University with an Anesthesiology residency in 2003 and Obstetrical Anesthesia fellowship in 2004. I worked in a general private practice for two years at a community hospital in Colorado and was involved in creating protocols for OB related concerns such as non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy and skin to skin contact in the OR during cesarean delivery. I then returned to academic practice and worked for eight years at the University of Colorado and the Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health. I have collaborated extensively with the Stanford Anesthesia Informatics and Media Lab to create innovative educational tools. These include a major anesthesiology textbook, the Manual of Clinical Anesthesiology, and a comprehensive online learning program for anesthesiology residents called Learnly. I've been the OB anesthesia fellowship director at both the University of Colorado and Stanford University. I truly love guiding fellows from interested residents to consultants in OB anesthesia. My research interests include medical education and topics related to the Obstetrical Anesthesiology workforce.
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Albert H. Tsai
Clinical Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
BioDr. Tsai is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and the Program Director of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship. He completed his medical degree and anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania and a cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Stanford. Dr. Tsai has led numerous educational initiatives at the institutional and national levels, and has special interests in the role of augmented reality technology in medical simulation.
