This group embraces a number of diverse interests in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including gene expression, neurophysiology, neuropharamacology, neuroendocrinology and signal transduction. Faculty members make strong contributions to research in alcohol and drug abuse, circadian rhythms, neural development, and neurodegeneration. They belong to several research-oriented interdepartmental faculties affiliated with Texas A&M University, such as the Neuroscience and Toxicology Programs.s

Hubert Amrein, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Sensory Perception of External Chemical World.

Gregory Bix, M.D., Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Role of Extracellular Matrix in Stroke

Jeff Browning, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
Research Interests:

Wei-Jung Chen, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Associate Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Effects of substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, etc.) on the developing brain; Polydrug interactions on brain and cognitive developments; Fetal alcohol syndrome; Use of 3-dimensional stereological cell counting techniques, immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay, high-performance liquid chromatograph, gas chromatograph and behavioral assessments.

George Chiou, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests 1.Treatment of uveitis and systemic inflammation with novel interleukin-1 blockers, 2.Systemic delivery of peptide drugs through the eyes, 3.Treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ischemic retinopathy with dopamine antagonists, 4.Action mechanisms of nitric oxide precursors for ischemic stroke and ocular hypertension, 5.Ocular pharmacology of natural products isolated from medicinal plants, 6.Treatment of dry-ARMD (Age related macular degeneration)

Sharon Demorrow, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Research Interests: Liver Cancer - Cholangiocarcinoma

Pier Luigi DiPatre, M.D., Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Pathology
Research Interests: Brain Tumors, Brain Aging, Alzheimer Disease.

David Earnest, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of the Mammalian Circadian.

Jonathan A. Friedman, M.D. -- College Station
Associate Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests:

Gerald Frye, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Understanding the neuropharmacology of intoxication, tolerance and dependence, including epilepsy-like withdrawal seizures. Understanding the neurotoxicology of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) to identify therapeutic interventions that protect / improve brain function of children at risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) injury. Understanding how the venom of the cicada killer wasp (Sphecius specious) causes nervous system paralysis.

William Griffith, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Department Head
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: I am interested in several aspects of the neuropharmacology of aging. Specifically, we are studying voltage- and ligand - gated channels during aging.

Paul Hicks, Ph.D. -- Temple
Professor
Psychiatry & Behavioral Science
Research Interests:

Rajesh Miranda, M.A., Ph.D. -- Bryan
Associate Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Fetal brain development, stem cells, microRNAs and teratology.

Ian Murray, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Assistant Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Our laboratory's goals are to understand the detrimental role protein misfolding and oxidative stress in development of AD (Alzheimer's Disease) pathology.

Darwin J. Prockop, M.D. -- Temple
Director
Texas A&M HSC
Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Scott & White
Research Interests

Mendell Rimer, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Assistant Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of synapses, the connections between nerve cells and their targets.

Jennifer L. Robinson, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Scott & White Memorial Hospital-Neuroscience Institute
Research Interests: Dr. Robinson has established an active research career examining emotion regulation and processing and more recently has focused her efforts on affective circuitry within psychiatric and movement disorder populations. Additionally, she is interested in autonomic physiology, deep brain stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Russell Sanchez, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
College of Medicine
Research Interests: Dr. Sanchez has established an active research program in the study of neurologic consequences of neonatal hypoxic encephalopathy and early life seizures.

Manjit K Sanghera -- Temple
Assistant Professor
Neuroscience Institute- Scott & White Hospital
Research Interests: Neurophysiologial mapping to treat Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis and dystonia. A current research interest is the underlying mechanisms of the pathophysiology of Parkinson's Disease.

Lee Shapiro, Ph.D. -- Temple
Assistant Professor
College of Medicine
Research Interests:

Farida Sohrabji, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Professor
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: I am interested in a critical issue in women's health and aging, specifically, in understanding how the decline of hormones at menopause affects brain function, and the impact of hormone replacement therapy on cognitive function in the aging female brain.

Gregg Wells, Ph.D. -- College Station
Assistant Professor
Molecular & Cellular Medicine
Research Interests: Dr. Well's laboratory studies roles of protein structure in disease, particular in neurological disease. Three specific areas of study: 1) structure and functions of the superfamily of neurotransmitter-gated ion channels; 2) interpreting electrophysiological properties of ligand gated ion channels in terms of structure and thermodynamics; 3) computational models describing cochlear hair cells. Neuropathology is the clinical specialty of Dr. Wells.

James West, Ph.D. -- College Station
Professor Emeritus
Neurosciences & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: Neuroteratology of Drugs of Abuse This laboratory is involved in studies focused on the effects of alcohol and cocaine on the developing brain.

Ursula Winzer-Serhan, Ph.D. -- Bryan
Associate Professor
Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics
Research Interests: I am interested in factors that affect neuronal survival during development and in adults, selectively targeting specific neuronal populations, and therefore, influence behavior and cognitive performance. I am also interested in how early life-long events such as drug exposure, shape behavioral characteristics for life.