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• Dr. Baram Wins Major Epilepsy Research Award

Dr. Tallie Z. Baram, Professor of Pediatrics and of Anatomy & Neurobiology, and also the Danette Shepard Chair in Neurological Sciences, has received the Epilepsy Research Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Pharmacology of Antiepileptic Drugs. Presented by the American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, the award recognizes outstanding research leading to better clinical control of epileptic seizures. Baram is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field of basic neural mechanisms involved in childhood febrile seizures -- those caused by high fever -- and how these prolonged seizures can lead to adult epilepsy. She received the award April 18 at the organization's annual meeting in New Orleans. Congratulations Dr. Baram.

• Ivan Soltesz Awarded Michael Prize in Epilepsy Research

Dr. Ivan Soltesz, Professor and Chair of Anatomy & Neurobiology, is the recipient of the 2009 Michael Prize for research in epilepsy. The Michael Prize is one of the most highly regarded international awards for biomedical research, and is awarded every second year to acknowledge outstanding work in understanding the neurobiological bases of epilepsy.

Dr. Soltesz is a neurobiologist who focuses his research work on inhibitory local circuit neurons of the brain; these neurons play an essential role in preventing uncontrolled excitation in neural circuits that lead to seizure activity. He studies two types of epileptic seizures, one type resulting from head trauma in adults and another type resulting from early febrile (fever induced) seizures in infants.

These areas of research are supported by two research grants from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Soltesz is author of more than 60 peer reviewed research papers related to the neurobiology of epilepsy and is co-editor of the recent book Computational Neuroscience in Epilepsy. He was elected as Chair of the Basic Science Committee of the American Epilepsy Society and also serves on the Executive Committee of UCI’s EpiCenter, devoted to studies of epilepsy.

The Michael Prize will be awarded at the International Epilepsy Congress, to be held in Budapest Hungary in June of this year. As recipient of the Michael Prize, Dr. Soltesz will deliver a plenary address to the Congress, followed by a reception sponsored by the Michael Foundation to honor Dr. Soltesz and past recipients.

• Dr. Hans Keirstead Briefs Congress on Stem Cell Research

Hans Keirstead, the neurobiologist behind what will be the world’s first human embryonic stem cell clinical trial briefed Congress on the state of the field Tuesday, March 24, in Washington, D.C. Keirstead was joined by Robert Klein, a spinal-cord-injury research advocate, and Thomas Okarma, Geron Corp. president and chief executive officer, for the briefing. Geron will conduct the clinical trial for Keirstead’s acute-spinal-cord-injury therapy. Keirstead discussed that treatment, recently approved for human clinical testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other stem cell therapies in development. He also stressed the need for collaboration between academia and industry. Read Full Story...

• Julie Harness elected President, UCI Student Society for Stem Cell Research

Julie Harness, graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Hans Keirstead and member of the Bill and Sue Gross Stem Cell center, serves as President of the UC Irvine chapter of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research. As President, Harness helps fellow grad students and postdoctoral fellows build futures in the stem cell field by connecting them with faculty mentors, potential employers and people with illnesses that stem cell therapies may one day cure. The Student Society, which also hosts public lectures and student networking events, is open to anyone with an interest in stem cell biology. Founded by two graduate students in 2006, the UCI chapter is about 250 strong, and includes students, postdoctoral researchers, industry professionals and members of the general public. Harness believes UCI undergraduates studying stem cells have an important edge: They can work on projects that are scientifically important and also serve as important points on their resumes. One of Harness’ research projects is developing stem cells that are specific to a patient, which could lead to treatments for Huntington’s disease and other disorders. Congratulations Julie!

• Departmental Grad Day is Scheduled for Thursday June 11, 2009

Grad Day is an annual event that allows graduate students to present summaries of their research projects to the full department. Grad Day is held aboard the Endeavor in Newport Harbor, and includes a lunch time cruise. This year's keynote address is given by Dr. Craig Stark, Associate Professor of Neurobiology & Behavior, and an internationally recognized expert in the cognitive neuroscience of learning and memory.

• Dr. Gary Lynch is Newest Member of Department’s Faculty. 

Dr. Lynch recently accepted a joint appointment as Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology in addition to his continuing appointment as Professor of Psychiatry.  Dr. Lynch is a long-time member of the UCI faculty, joining the campus in 1969 after earning his doctoral degree from Princeton University. Dr. Lynch is a neuronal cell biologist and a systems neuroscientist, whose primary research area is understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of memory.  Using long term potentiation (LTP) as a model, Dr. Lynch’s laboratory has studied the roles of glutatmate receptor activation in memory formation.  In an effort with clear clinical importance, has developed the use of AMPAkines as a pharmacological tool to increase synaptic strength. Recently, Dr. Lynch has been studying cell biological processes that control dendritic spine formation during learning paradigms.  Using state-of-the-art techniques of laser confocal microscopy and deconvolution software, Dr. Lynch’s work has advanced the effort to identify specific synapses that are formed when learning occurs. The Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology welcomes the addition of this eminent neuroscientist.

• Dr. Soltesz is Lead Editor of Recently Published Book Examining New Approaches in Epilepsy Research

Dr. Ivan Soltesz is lead editor of the newly published book, "Computational Neuroscience in Epilepsy". The book examines the ever-increasing power of computer models to predict the behavior of brain-cell networks in healthy and diseased states. The book also offers new technology to develop novel treatments for epilepsy. The Soltesz laboratory is in the forefront of research into neural mechanisms of epilepsy. Dr. Soltesz recently received a Senator Jacob Javits Award in the Neurosciences, the nation's most prestigious prize for cutting-edge research on brain injury and illnesses. More information is available through Elsevier.

• UCI Awarded $27.2 Million for New Stem Cell Building

UC Irvine recently was awarded $27.2 million to build a new stem cell research facility that will unify and strengthen the growing stem cell biology program. The new building will include the core stem cell laboratory and state-of-the-art equipment for human embryonic stem cell line derivation, cell culture, differentiation and purification, and cell and tissue imaging.“We expect the building will serve not only UCI, but also our regional partners as well as visitors from around the world,” said Hans Keirstead, Associate Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology and co-director of the stem cell center.  UCI’s stem cell scientists are pioneers in regeneration, in large-scale production of specialized cells with very high purity, and in methods for using such cells to treat damaged tissues. The first clinical trial in the United States of a human embryonic stem cell-based therapy likely will be based on work performed in Keirstead’s lab at UCI. When completed, the three-story, 61,600-square-foot building will house the UCI Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center and 26 laboratory-based and clinical researchers.

• Department Boasts 2 Javits Grantees

The National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NIDS) awards special grants at each review cycle, to honor the late US Senator Jacob Javits. These prestigious 7 year grants are awarded to distinguished investigators who have made substantial contributions on the leading edge of neurosciences and who can be expected to continue the high level of productivity. This department is proud that two faculty members, Dr. Ivan Soltesz, Professor and Chair of Anatomy & Neurobiology, and Dr. Tallie Z. Baram, Professor of Pediatrics and of Anatomy & Neurobiology both have been awarded Javits grants. Many congratulations to Ivan and to Tallie!