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Ph.D.
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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. |
Nancy E. Rawson