Labmembers

SANTHAKUMAR LAB

Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience,

New Jersey Medical School,

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

MSB-H-512

185, South Orange avenue,

Newark, NJ - 07103.

Office- 973.972.2421

Lab - 973.972.0167

Fax - 973.973.5059


		My main goal is to broaden the bridge between clinical and basic research by practicing neurology as a physician scientist. Brain injury research provides me with the opportunity to investigate the basic mechanisms of clinically relevant disorders and to treat, possibly cure, the suffering of patients. I have been actively engaged in experimental research for the last year. The question that I sought to address is whether changes in synaptic and extrasynaptic (tonic) inhibition in specific hippocampal neuronal subtypes may contribute to physiological abnormalities in the injured hippocampus. Post-doctoral fellowship research is funded by: New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research (NJCBIR)
Akshay Gupta guptaak@njms.rutgers.edu


		Synchronization of large neuronal networks via oscillations is key in binding various attributes of stimuli such as color, shape etc. to produce a coherent perceptual experience. While synchronization of networks is considered to be an integral part of higher order brain functions, minor perturbations in such synchronization tends to result in psychological and neurological illnesses. Epilepsy, is one such condition that involves precise orchestration of hyperexcitable ensembles of neurons. My primary interest is to understand such network interactions in epilepsy with emphasis on interneuronal functions.
Deepak Subramanian ds1354@njms.rutgers.edu

Graduate Students
		My research during Masters was focused on determining how seizure-induced alterations in inhibitory neurons, especially basket cells intrinsic and extrinsic GABA currents modulate dentate network rhythms and synchrony. Taking this knowledge further, my PhD thesis focuses on how diverse population of interneurons contribute to cellular mechanisms of memory patterns and the effect of their dysfunction in epilepsy using optogenetics and computational tools.
Archana Proddutur prodduar@njms.rutgers.edu