Diane K. O'DowdProfessor, Developmental & Cell Biology Professor, Anatomy & Neurobiology |
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Research Interests |
Synaptic transmission, plasticity, ion channels, Drosophila, genetics, learning and memory, nicotine | |
| URL | For most recent updates see my Home Page | |
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Academic Distinctions |
2008-2009 National Academies Education Mentor in the Life Sciences 2006-2009 Board Member, National Academies Summer Institute on Undergrad. Ed. 2006-2010 HHMI Professor Award 2007 UCI Senate Council on Student Experience, TA Development Award 2005-6 UCI Academic Senate Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, UCI 2005 Faculty Member of the Month (October), Mesa Court, Student Organization 2005 Biological Sciences Golden Apple Teaching Award 2004 National Acadamies Education Fellow in the Life Sciences 1995-2000 Research Career Development Award (RCDA), NIH 1989-1991 Multiple Sclerosis Society Fellowship 1989 Irvine Faculty Research Fellowship 1989 Irvine College of Medicine Faculty Research Grant 1986-1988 American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship 1985 European Molecular Biology Organization Fellowship 1982 Cold Spring Harbor Grass Fellowship 1979-1982 National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship |
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| Appointments | 1986-1989, Postdoctoral Fellow in laboratory of Dr. Rick Aldrich, Stanford University | |
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Research Abstract |
For the past 20 years my research lab at UCI has studied the activity of living neurons from the brains of both flies and mice. Using molecular genetic manipulations and whole cell electrophysiology we are exploring the role of specific genes in regulating functional plasticity of developing and mature neural circuits. We are also examining how environmental factors such as exposure to specific drugs, including nicotine, can influence information transfer between neurons. A basic understanding of the genes and environmental factors that influence information processing between small groups of neurons is key to development of drugs and gene therapies aimed at restoring normal activity in the human brain that has been damaged by injury, disease, or exposure to drugs of abuse. These studies will also provide important clues as to the factors that might enhance normal cognitive function both during development and in the mature human brain. Teaching is also an important facet of my career. With resources provided by an HHMI Professorship we are working to transform the relationship between teaching and research at UCI, a setting where research tends to dominate, and teaching is often viewed a burdensome chore. We are developing strategies to help create dynamic learning environments in large biology classes that are compatible with the faculty building or maintaining successful research programs. We also provide training in interactive teaching for graduate students TAs teaching discussions and postdoctoral fellows mentoring undergraduates in research. Finally, we have a program aimed at increasing the number of undergraduate biology majors participating in education abroad, with a particular focus on recruiting students who are members of groups underrepresented in the sciences. |
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| Publications | Oh, Hyun-Woo, Jorge M. Campusano, Lutz G.W. Hilgenberg, Xicui Sun, Martin A. Smith, and Diane K. O’Dowd (2008) Ultrastructural analysis of chemical synapses and gap junctions between Drosophila brain neurons in culture. Dev. Neurobiology 68: 281-294. | |
| Aguilar-Roca, N., A. Williams, R. Warrior, D.K.O’Dowd (2009) Two minute training in class significantly increases the use of professional formatting in student to faculty email correspondence. IJSoTL: In press. http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ijsotl/ | ||
| Vasu, S.*, H. Gu*, V.K. Sharma, D.K.O’Dowd, and T. Holmes (2008) Circadian- and light-dependent regulation of resting membrane potential and spontaneous action potential firing of Drosophila circadian pacemaker neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 99: 976-88. *authors contributed equally to the work. | ||
| Vasu, S., V.K. Sharma, H. Gu, Y-T Chou, D.K. O’Dowd, and T. Holmes (2008) Pigment Dispersing factor-dependent and –independent circadian locomoter behavioral rhythms. J. Neurosci, 28: 217-227. | ||
| Campusano, J.M., H. Su, S.A. Jiang, B. Sicaeros, D. K. O’Dowd (2007) nAChR-mediated calcium responses and plasticity in Drosophila Kenyon cells. Dev. Neurobiology 67: 1520-1532. | ||
| O’Dowd, D.K., Sicaeros, B. and Campusano, J.M. “Primary neuronal cultures from brains of late stage Drosophila pupae” (05/28/2007) Journal of Visualized Experiments, 4, http://www.jove.com/Details.htm?ID=200&VID=178 | ||
| Gu, H. and D.K. O’Dowd (2006) Cholinergic synaptic transmission in Drosophila Kenyon cells in situ. J. Neurosci. 26: 265-272. | ||
| Gu, H., and O’Dowd, D.K. “Whole cell recordings from brain of adult Drosophila” (07/29/2007) Journal of Visualized Experiments, 6, http://www.jove.com/index/Details.stp?ID=248 | ||
| Hilgenberg, L.G.W, H. Su, H. Gu, D.K.O’Dowd, and M.A. Smith (2006) _3Na+/K+-ATPase is a neuronal receptor for agrin. Cell 125: 359-369. | ||
| Jiang, S.A., J.M. Campusano, H. Su, and D.K. O’Dowd (2005) Drosophila mushroom body Kenyon cells generate spontaneous calcium transients mediated by PLTX-sensitive calcium channels. J. Neurophysiol. 94: 491-500. | ||
| Grants | NIH NS27501-18 | |
| HHMI Professor Grant 2006-2010 | ||
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Professional Societies |
Society for Neuroscience Society for General Physiology |
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| Graduate Programs |
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program |
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| Research Center | Developmental Biology Center | |
| Link to this profile | http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=2702 | |
| Last updated | 08/22/2008 | |