Damian Shin, MSc, PhD
Professor & Chair
Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology Dept.
511 South Floyd Street, Room 111
Louisville, KY 40202
Damian
Shin, MSc, PhD
Areas of Study
Education
Toronto Western Hospital 2009 Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Toronto 2005 PhD
University of Western Ontario 1999 MSc
Neuronal signaling, DBS and pharmacotherapy
Research
My lab has two divergent interests in neuroscience research. In one line of research, we aim to characterize the aberrant neuronal signaling underlying Parkinson's disease (PD) at the cellular and network level. This will help to reveal novel therapeutics, including neuromodulation. In the other line of research, we examine possible treatment options for epilepsy which involve deep brain stimulation (DBS) or pharmacotherapy.
To undertake either task, my laboratory employs a variety of electrophysiological techniques to monitor neuronal activity in brain slices and from multiple brain regions from anesthetized or freely moving animals.
We also employ behavioral testing of animals, immunohistochemistry and optogenetics to complement the electrophysiology.
The specific research goals of my lab are outlined below.
Understand the network pathophysiology underlying PD and epilepsy.
To do this, we examine single cell and network neuronal activity under normal and diseased states.
Investigate mechanism(s) underlying the therapeutic effects of DBS for treating symptoms of PD and epilepsy.
This may reveal ways to improve outcomes, minimize stimulation-induced complications and/or expand the efficacy of this approach.
Identify novel chemicals which can serve as an antiepileptic drug for epilepsy.
