Graduate Student - Ph.D.

Neuroscience

University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

Daniela Kaufer

Modifying stress hormone-associated regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

One of the most remarkable aspects of adult CNS plasticity is the birth, survival and differentiation of new neurons—all together a process known as neurogenesis—that occurs in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus well into adulthood. A variety of factors can alter adult hippocampal neurogenesis, but perhaps the most powerful and ecologically relevant factor that influences all aspects of this process is exposure to stress hormones. Chronic exposure to stress hormones, known as glucocorticoids (GCs), has been shown to suppress the birth of new neurons in the dentate gyrus, as well as reduce new neuron survival and neuronal differentiation. However, the link between high GCs and suppressed neurogenesis is not immutable. Voluntary wheel running, enriched environment, and cognitive tasks all have been shown to lead to elevations in circulating GCs and yet, to increases in hippocampal neurogenesis. Therefore, it seems that other factors must be able to modulate GC effects on proliferative cells in the adult DG. My research focuses on using such in vivo level manipulations along with in vitro model systems to investigate the mechanism(s) by which GC-induced supression of neurogenesis can be prevented. By better understanding how the mitotic division and differentiation of hippocampal NPCs is regulated, my work will enhance understanding of stem cell biology and environmental regulation of adult CNS plasticity.

2008 National Science Foundation-Honorable Mention

2007 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

2007 National Science Foundation-Honorable Mention

2006 Howard Hughes Neuroscience Fellow

2005 National Science Foundation--REU: Summer School in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology

2004 National Science Foundation--REU: Mechanisms of Behavior Fellow