Shai Silberberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Shai D. Silberberg is a new Program Director in the Channels Synapses and Circuits cluster where he administers a portfolio of grants on the molecular structure and function of ion channels and transporters in health and disease. Prior to joining NINDS, Dr. Silberberg was an Associate Professor in the Department of Life Science at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel , investigating the biophysical functions and physiological roles of various ion channels.  Dr. Silberberg was born, raised, and educated in Israel .  Following an obligatory three-year military service (and an additional 9 months for officer training) he obtained a B.Sc. in Biology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem  and a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology on frequency modulation of transmitter release.  Dr. Silberberg acquired postdoctoral training in ion channel physiology and biophysics at Baylor College of Medicine and at the University of Miami School of Medicine, studying Ca and K currents in vascular smooth muscle cells, and single channel gating of cloned Ca-activated K channels.  In 1993, Dr. Silberberg joined the faculty of the Department of Life Sciences at Ben-Gurion University in Israel where he expanded his interests to include the role of P2X receptor channels in regulating airway cilia activity. Since 2002, Dr. Silberberg is an Adjunct Investigator in the Intramural Research Program of NINDS studying the molecular mechanism of action of ATP-gated receptor channels (P2X receptors).