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Additional Contact Information: Department of Biomedical Sciences |
EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2004 - Ph.D. School of Natural Sciences, Buenos Aires University, Argentina.
1996 - B.Sc. School of Natural Sciences, Buenos Aires University, Argentina.
Professional Positions:
2019 - Present - Course Director, Clinical Neuroscience
2010-2015 - Associate Research Scientist, Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University
School of Medicine,
- New Haven, CT.
2004-2010 - Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School
of Medicine,
New Haven, CT.
RESEARCH/TEACHING INTERESTS
1. Cellular and molecular regulation of axon guidance.
2. Axon extension during development and regeneration.
3. Mechanisms underlying the formation of topographic maps in the nervous system.
Research Narrative:
Research in my lab is focused on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying axon guidance and connectivity. The complexity of the nervous system depends on the precision of the spatio-temporal development of intricate neuronal connections. Abnormal wiring such as those observed in, for example Joubert or Kallmann syndromes are indicative of the critical nature of these developmental processes. Using the olfactory system, we have been studying the remarkable specificity of olfactory sensory neuron axon navigation from the olfactory epithelium toward the olfactory bulb.
- Neurons in the olfactory epithelium are regenerated throughout life from basal stem cells, and new axons navigate toward the central nervous system continuously. Therefore, understanding these processes will allow the use of these stem cells in therapeutic treatments. Many axon guidance molecules are implicated in establishing the olfactory sensory neuron axon pathway, including the odorant receptors. However necessary these molecules are, none of them are sufficient to fully account for the intricate targeting of these axons. Therefore, the question remains: how do guidance molecules and odor receptors interact in the development/regeneration of the primary olfactory pathway? In pursuing this question, the lab analyzes different aspects of this process including expression patterns and the role of specific axon guidance molecules, as well as how and when odorant receptors contribute to axon guidance.
We use a variety of approaches to answer questions including cell and molecular biology
(PCR, qPCR, cloning, and in vitro nucleotide synthesis), histology (immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization), and confocal microscopy.
- Courses:
- NEUR-2321. Clinical Neuroscience (Fall semester, 2016)
- BIOM 6010 Biomedical Science I Molecular Organization of Cells (Fall semester, 2016)
LABORATORY PERSONNEL
Rudy Chapman Ph.D. student. Graduate Program in Biomedical SciencesPUBMED
PubMed PublicationsSELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Odorant receptors regulate the final glomerular coalescence of olfactory sensory neuron axons. D.J. Rodriguez-Gil, D.L. Bartel, A.W. Jasper, A.S. Mobley, F. Imamura, and C.A. Greer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. (2015) 112(18):5821-6. PMID: 25902488.
Fibulin-3 promotes glioblastoma vascularization by paracrine stimulation of Notch-DLL4 signaling M.S. Nandhu, B. Hu, S. Cole, A. Erdreich-Epstein, D.J. Rodriguez-Gil and M.S. Viapiano. Cancer Research (2014) 74(19): 1-14. PMID: 25139440.
Aging in the Olfactory System A. Mobley, D.J. Rodriguez-Gil, F. Imamura and C.A. Greer. Trends Neurosci. (2014) 37(2):77-84. PMID: 24361044.
Dishevelled proteins are associated with olfactory sensory neuron presynaptic terminals D.J. Rodriguez-Gil, W. Hu and C.A. Greer. PLoS ONE, (2013) 8(2): e56561. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0056561. PMID: 23437169.
Renal cystic disease proteins play critical roles in the organization of the olfactory
epithelium. J.L. Pluznick*, D.J. Rodriguez-Gil*, M. Hull, K. Mistry, V. Gattone3, C.A. Johnson, S. Weatherbee, C.A. Greer, M.J.
Caplan. PLoS ONE, (2011) 6(5): e19694.
(*: Co-first authors). PMID: 21614130.
Chromosomal location-dependent nonstochastic onset of odor receptor expression. D.J. Rodriguez-Gil, H.B. Treloar, X. Zhang, A.M. Miller, A. Two, C. Iwema, S.J. Firestein, C.A. Greer. J Neurosci. (2010) 30(30):10067-75. PMID: 20668191.