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Physical Chemistry of the Synapse

The focus of this lab is the study of the molecular basis of synaptic transmission in the mammalian brain. Our primary interests lie in understanding the regulation of presynaptic strength , i.e. how well nerve terminals perform, under a variety of stimulus conditions. 

We use biophysical tools to measure physiological parameters at synapses, including exocytosis, endocytosis, action potential wave forms and voltage-triggered calcium fluxes  in individual presynaptic boutons. We combine these with molecular, chemical and genetic tools to investigate the role of specific proteins in these events. We concentrate heavily on state-of-the-art optical methods to obtain a quantitative understanding of presynaptic function and attempt to reduce the complexities of synaptic transmission in a physico-chemical framework.

Graduate Programs

The lab participates in the following programs:

• The Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering/Cornell Tri-Institutional Training Program in Chemical Biology
  
• The Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering/Cornell MD PhD Tri-Institutional Training Program
• The David Rockefeller Graduate Program of the Rockefeller University
  
• The Weill-SKI Graduate Program in Biochemistry & Structural Biology
• The Weill- SkI Graduate Program in Neuroscience
• Program in Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering
  

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The lab is in the department of Biochemistry at the
 Weill Cornell Medical College