LAB
MEMBERS
BRIAN
D. McCABE -
bm2157@columbia.edu
PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR
Brian McCabe
is an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Physiology and Cellular
Biophysics and
the Department of Neuroscience
at Columbia
University. He is also a member of the Columbia
University Center for Motor Neuron Biology and
Disease. He
received his B.A. from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge,
England where he was a Marie Curie Fellow. His
postdoctoral research was carried out at the
University of California at Berkeley as a Wellcome
Trust Prize Traveling Fellow.
He is
currently an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow and a
NARSAD Young Investigator. He is also an academic
editor of the journal PLoS One.
VALENTINA
RAMIREZ
-
vir2102@columbia.edu
RESEARCH
ASSISTANT
I am
working on microRNA regulation of synapses in addition to
being involved in joint projects with other members of
the lab and taking care of lab
organization.
JI-WU
WANG -
jw2638@columbia.edu
POSTDOCTORAL
FELLOW
I am working
on novel mutants that cause dramatic overgrowth of
neuromuscular junction synapses. I am also generating
Drosophila models for motor neuron disease in
particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS).
WENDY
IMLACH -
wi2103@columbia.edu
POSTDOCTORAL
FELLOW
My research
is focused on the role of activity in the regulation of
synaptic signaling and the physiological role of motor
neuron disease related genes in particular
SMN. I am also developing new
techniques to analyze both central and peripheral
synapses.
ZEINA
CHAMOUN -
zc2179@columbia.edu
POSTDOCTORAL
FELLOW
KRISTEN
WERNER -
kmw2115@columbia.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT
-
Neurobiology and
Behavior
I work on
understanding how altering neuronal activity induces
synaptic structural change at the neuromuscular junction.
We have found that BMP signaling is required for
activity-dependant growth of NMJ synapses and I am
determining the molecular nature of this interaction. I
am also working on new tools to manipulate the activity
of neurons.
ELLEN
PENNEY -
ebp2101@columbia.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT
-
MD/PhD,
Neurobiology and
Behavior
My work is
focused on the molecular signals that govern synaptic
branching and growth. We have identified a retrograde
signaling pathway which promotes synaptic arborisation
and alters neurotransmitter release. I have also
identified a role for microRNA's in the regulation of
this process.
ERIN
SAVNER -
ems2138@columbia.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT
-
MD/PhD,
Neurobiology and
Behavior
My research
is focused on the role of post-transcriptional mechanisms
in the regulation of synaptic architecture. We have
identified a novel RNA splicing factor that regulates
synaptic growth and candidate target RNA's altered by its
activity. I am also building new tools for the genetic
manipulation and imaging of both central and peripheral
synapses.
BENJAMIN CHOI -
bjc2122@columbia.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT
-
Physiology and Cellular
Biophysics
I work on
understanding how BMP retrograde signaling is induced,
transmitted and regulated at the neuromuscular junction.
We have found that BMP signaling is locally regulated in
NMJ synapses and I am determining the molecular nature of
this regulation. I am also working on new tools to
visualize signaling pathways in neurons.
JONATHAN
BRENT -
jrb2140@columbia.edu
GRADUATE
STUDENT
-
MD/PhD,
Integrated Graduate
Program
I am
working on post-transcritional regulation of synaptic
growth and developing new models for motor neuron
disease.
People who have left the lab
can be found in Previous Lab
Members
