Contact Information

(267) 519-4823

Karen Yee

Research Associate

Education

Ph.D., Physiology; Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Summary

My research interest is in neural regeneration and the plasticity of the mammalian olfactory system. The focus is on identifying the cellular mechanisms and biochemical factors that mediate and promote repair and recovery of sensory neurons. Various behavioral, morphological, and immunohistochemical methods are used to examine olfactory regeneration in both human and animal models of various injuries (i.e., head trauma), chemical exposures and disease-related olfactory loss. This work has implications for understanding ways to promote neuronal regeneration not only in the olfactory system but also in the central nervous system.

Keywords

olfactory, regeneration, neuroscience, behavior

Recent Publications

Borgmann-Winter, K., Rawson, N. E., Wang, H.-Y., Wang, H., MacDonald, M. L., Ozdener, M. H. et al. (2009). Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience, 158, 642-653.

Feng, P., Yee, K. K., Rawson, N. E., Feldman, L. M., Feldman, R. S., & Breslin, P. A. S. (2009, electronic publication). Immune cells of the human peripheral taste system: Dominant dendritic cells and CD4 T cells. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2009.02.016

Lischka, F. W., Gomez, G., Yee, K. K., Dankulich-Nagrudny, L., Lo, L., Haskins, M. E. et al. (2008). Altered olfactory epithelial structure and function in feline models of mucopolysaccharidoses I and VI. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 511, 360-372.

Ozdener, M. H., Yee, K. K., Cao, J., Brand, J. G., Teeter, J. H., & Rawson, N. E. (2006). Characterization and long term maintenance of rat taste cells in culture. Chemical Senses, 31, 279-290.

Rawson, N. E. & Yee, K. K. (2006). Transduction and coding. Hummel, T. and Welge-Lüssen, A. Taste and Smell. An Update. Advances in Otorhinolaryngology 63, 23-43. Basel, Karger Press. Advances in Otorhinolaryngology.