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| Leonardo Belluscio, Ph.D., Senior Investigator |
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Dr. Belluscio received his B.S. from Manhattan College and his Ph.D. from Columbia University where he studied the molecular and cellular organization of the mammalian olfactory system with Richard Axel. He then went on to do post-doctoral training with Larry Katz at Duke University, where he investigated the functional and anatomical organization of the olfactory bulb using various imaging techniques. Dr. Belluscio joined NINDS as an investigator in 2002. His laboratory now combines molecular and functional techniques to study olfactory neural plasticity associated with circuit development and its repair following disruption.
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Staff:
- Li Bai, Research Assistant, (301) 435-4643 bail@ninds.nih.gov
- Dr. Claire Cheetham, Postdoctoral Fellow cheethamce@mail.nih.gov
- Kai Cheng, Special Volunteer, (301) 435-4643 kai.cheng@nih.gov
- Dr. Ning Cheng, Postdoctoral Fellow, (301) 435-4637 chengn2@ninds.nih.gov
- Dr. Diana Cummings, Postdoctoral Fellow, (301) 435-4648 cummingsdi@ninds.nih.gov
- Dr. Una Park, Postdoctoral Fellow, (301) 435-4647 parkuy@ninds.nih.gov
- Amit Sethi, Special Volunteer, (301) 435-4643 amit.sethi@nih.gov
- Elizabeth Steuer, Research Assistant, (301) 435-4643 elizabeth.steuer@nih.gov
- Dr. Zhishang Zhou, Research Associate, (301) 435-4643 zhouzhishang@ninds.nih.gov
Research Interests:
My Laboratory conducts research to understand the principles and mechanisms that underlie neural plasticity and regeneration in the brain. Using the mammalian olfactory system as a model the laboratory focuses on four main goals: (1) identification of neural circuits within the olfactory system that exhibit functional plasticity; (2) determining the molecular and functional mechanisms that govern olfactory based plasticity; (3) understanding the relationship between plasticity and the capacity for repair of olfactory circuits; and (4) establishing the role of sensory induced activity on the restoration of neural circuits. Our research is multidisciplinary including biochemistry, molecular biology and electrophysiology as well as in vivo imaging, optogenetic and behavioral techniques all combined with genetically engineered mice. Given the connection between olfactory dysfunction and neurological disease such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, this work also has a strong translational focus.
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Selected Recent Publications:
Cheng N, Cai H, Belluscio L. (2011) In Vivo Olfactory Model of APP-Induced Neurodegeneration Reveals a Reversible Cell-Autonomous Function. , J Neurosci. Sep 28;31(39), 13699-704..
Cheng K, Bai L, Belluscio L. (2011) Fas-associated factor 1 as a regulator of olfactory axon guidance. , J Neurosci. Aug 17;31(33), 11905-13.
Cummings DM, Belluscio L. (2010) Continuous neural plasticity in the olfactory intrabulbar circuitry. , J Neurosci. Jul 7;30(27):, 9172-80.
Chuang KH, Lee JH, Silva AC, Belluscio L, Koretsky AP (2009) Manganese enhanced MRI reveals functional circuitry in response to odorant stimuli, Neuroimage Jan 15;44(2), 363-72.
Zhou Z, Belluscio L. (2008) Intrabulbar projecting external tufted cells mediate a timing-based mechanism that dynamically gates olfactory bulb output. , J Neurosci. Oct 1;28(40), 9920-8.
Nguyen MQ, Zhou Z, Marks CA, Ryba NJ, Belluscio L. (2007) Prominent roles for odorant receptor coding sequences in allelic exclusion. , Cell. Nov 30, 131(5):, 1009-17.
Kerr MA, Belluscio L. (2006) Olfactory experience accelerates glomerular refinement in the mammalian olfactory bulb., Nat Neurosci. Apr;9(4):, 484-6.
All Selected Publications
Contact Information:
Dr. Leonardo Belluscio
Developmental Neural Plasticity Section, NINDS
Porter Neuroscience Research Center
Building 35, Room 3A-116
35 Convent Drive, MSC 3703
Bethesda, MD 20892-3703
Telephone: (301) 496-4898 (office),
(301) 435-4643 (laboratory),
(301) 435-4959 (fax)
Email: belluscl@ninds.nih.gov
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