Nancy E. Rawson
Associate Member

Ph.D.
(Biology; University of Pennsylvania)

The main focus of my laboratory is in chemosensory cell biology. We examine fundamental processes of olfactory transduction and receptor expression using single-cell biophysical and molecular techniques. Another major aim is to identify factors regulating the development and differentiation of chemosensory neurons with the goal of promoting regeneration and preventing age- or disease-related chemosensory loss. We work with the Monell-Jefferson Chemosensory Clinical Research Center to assess human olfactory function and dysfunction at both the perceptual and cellular levels. We have recently begun to study inflammatory processes in the olfactory epithelium of patients with chronic sinus disease to identify new approaches to prevent or treat olfactory impairment. Collaborations with researchers in the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania use olfactory neurons as a tool to gain insight into certain types of mental retardation, bipolar depression and schizophrenia. A multidisciplinary approach is used, including studies of behavior, tissue structure, electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging and gene expression.

My Monell Publications