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SNPM Staff (l-r): Tianjian Huang, Alan Zametkin, Zengyan Xia, Carolyn Beebe Smith, Jaclyn Batsakis, Kathleen Schmidt, Thomas Burlin, Mei Qin, Aaron Unterman, Shrinivas Bishu, Zhong-Hua Liu
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The Section on Neuroadaptation and Protein Metabolism is an integral part of the Neuroscience Research community at the National Institutes of Health. We are located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland in the Division of Intramural Research of the National Institute of Mental Health.
The aim of our research is to understand the role of protein metabolism in adaptive responses of the nervous system. Our work is built on the idea that long-term changes in the environment such as occur during development and aging, in response to synaptic activity and hormones, and as a result of disease or injury produce regional adjustments in protein metabolism that underlie growth, remodeling, degeneration, regeneration, and involution. |
| To study protein metabolism we develop, apply, and refine imaging methods that can be used to quantitatively measure these changes in vivo in all structures of the nervous system in animals and in man.
We are currently investigating fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited cause of mental impairment and the most common known cause of autism. |
 Regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (rCPS) in awake 21 year old male (adapted from Bishu et al., 2008.) |
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Our results in a mouse model of FXS indicate that there are defects in brain protein synthesis that may underlie disease symptoms.
Presently, we are testing for these effects on brain protein synthesis in clinical studies of subjects with FXS. These studies together with our complementary studies of behavior and cerebral energy metabolism are providing us with an integrated view of affected systems and circuits in FXS, and may provide insight into other neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding causal factors is fundamental to developing strategies for therapeutic intervention. |
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STAFF Carolyn Beebe Smith, Ph.D., Chief, (301) 402-3120 Email Dr. Beebe Smith Alan Zametkin, M.D.., Senior Staff Clinician, 301-496-4707 Email Dr. Zametkin Kathleen C. Schmidt, M.A., Staff Scientist, (301) 402-3119 Email Ms. Schmidt Mei Qin, M.D., Ph.D., Staff Scientist, (301) 496-6902 Email Dr. Qin Shrinivas Bishu, M.D., Clinical Research Fellow, 301-402-5295 Email Dr. Bishu Zhong-Hua Liu, Ph.D., Research Fellow, 301-402-3123 Email Dr. Liu Thomas V. Burlin, B.S., Research Assistant, (301) 496-6901 Email Mr. Burlin Zhengyan Xia. M.A.C., Research Assistant, 301-451-6890 Email Mr. Xia Tianjian Huang, M.S., Research Assistant, 301-402-3121 Email Ms. Huang Aaron Unterman, B.S., Research Assistant, 301-402-3121 Email Mr. Unterman Ariel Schonfeld, Special Volunteer, (301) 594-2098 Email Ms. Schonfeld Mattia Veronese, Special Volunteer, (301) 594-2098 Email Mr. Veronese We are currently recruiting a clinical fellow to participate in research PET studies on human subjects. The appointment is for one to three years and will begin on July 1, 2009. |
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