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Researchers in the Department of Neurobiology UAB Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute Break New Ground on How Memory Works
Researchers in the UAB Department of Neurobiology have discovered that a chemical reaction in cell DNA thought to be involved only in embryonic cell development and differentiation is also required for memory formation. “During embryonic development, cells use two major techniques to determine what type of cell they will be… the chemical change known as gene methylation, and another physical change in the three-dimensional structure of DNA known as chromatin modification,” said J. David Sweatt, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Neurobiology and director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB. Sweatt is lead author of the study, which appears in the March 15 issue of Neuron. Click here for the full article.

Third Annual Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Research Foundation Research Grant Awards Announced
The recipients of the 3rd Annual Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Research Foundation Research Grant Awards were recently selected. Two excellent projects were selected for funding from a larger group of extremely competitive applications. The awardees are Dr. Inga Kadish Department of Cell Biology and Dr. Anne Theibert, Department of Neurobiology. The McKnight awardees will each receive $33,000 for one year of support for their novel research programs. The awards are designed to allow the recipients to gather sufficient preliminary data to prepare applications for extramural NIH funding. 

Work in Dr. Kadisha’s laboratory will examine the role of white matter pathology in age-related cognitive deficits. Alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis, glutamate and cholesterol metabolism in astrocytes will be quantitatively examined using immunohistochemistry in adult and aging mice. The ability of anti-inflammatory compounds to slow down the time course of age induced changes will also be examined. 

Dr. Theibert’s studies will examine the role of PI 3-kinase and centaurins in dendritic spine and synapse formation and maintenance. These studies will be conducted in the developing and aging hippocampus using viral transduction with lentivirus-derived vectors to enhance or suppress expression of PI-3 kinase and centaurins. Innovative state of the art methods for studying processes potentially involved in normal aging are used in these studies. Both lines of research have potential translational implications and could lead to novel therapeutic strategies to limit age-related cognitive decline. These investigators will discuss their work at the 2007 Annual Neurobiology Retreat.

Endowed Chair Recipients and Donors Honored

Dr. Lee Dockery (left), Evelyn F. McKnight, Board of Trustee, President Carol Garrison, and Dr. David Sweatt, Professor and Endowed Chair, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute are shown at a recent dinner honoring the donors and holders of endowed chairs and professorships at UAB. Dr. Sweatt was one of the guest speakers highlighting ongoing research being conducted at the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute. 

Birmingham News and AL.com present feature article  on work of Dr. David Sweatt and Activities of McKnight Brain Institute
A highly informative article on the research activities of Dr. David Sweatt, Chairman of the Department of Neurobiology and Director of the UAB Evelyn F. Mcknight Brain Institute, and the mission of the UAB Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute is now online. Please click here to go to the AL.com web site article. The story is featured on the June 22, 2006, front page of the Birmingham News and is linked from the home page at www.al.com.

Facilities for the UAB Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute are located in the Richard C. and Annette N. Shelby Building at University Boulevard and 19th Street South.