Schizophrenia

Abigail Susan Kalmbach, Ph.D., of Columbia University will investigate how changing the firing patterns of dopamine-producing neurons affects how cells release and respond to the neurotransmitter. She will also explore in mice whether dopamine signaling deficits can be reversed in adulthood. Defects in dopamine signaling are a potential cause of cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and better understanding those defects could help researchers identify potential avenues for treatment.