Biography
Dr. Crosbie-Watson has pioneered work on the function of sarcospan within the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Introduction of sarcospan into dystrophin-deficient mice ameliorates muscular dystrophy in a me. The Crosbie lab has generated all the molecular tools and reagents for the study of sarcospan, which are not available elsewhere. Building on expertise in sarcospan and the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, the Crosbie lab is collaborating with the Baum lab in development of HTS assays to detect alteration in sarcospan expression as a therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Dr. Crosbie has also collaborated with the Spencer group at UCLA to develop and characterize novel methodologies for creating mouse models of muscle disease. In addition to her research, Dr. Crosbie is a dedicated educator. She has trained several HHMI, Beckman, and Dean’s undergraduate and graduate scholars. She successfully mentored a successful recipient of the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. This student was one of only thirteen students to be awarded the Marshall in UCLA?s history. Based on her excellence in classroom instruction, Dr. Crosbie was nominated for a Teaching Distinction Award at UCLA and she is Faculty Director of the Beckman Undergraduate Scholars Program.
Publications
A selected list of publications:
Biography
Glucose transporter modulations in the blood-brain barrier Our laboratory studies brain metabolism and blood-brain barrier function. Recent work has focused on analysis of subcellular mechanisms involved in regulation of blood-brain barrier nutrient transport, correlation of physiological measurements of transport (in experimental animals, in vivo) with subcellular location of the transporter protein. Methods include quantitative electron microscopic analyses of cell and membrane transporters, in vivomeasurement of brain uptake, internal carotid artery perfusion analyses of blood-brain barrier transfer, and measurement of cerebral blood flow rates in vivo. We have also been active in defining the role of the Glut1 glucose transporter isoform in brain tumors. A secondary interest is in transport and metabolism in schistosome parasites, with particular reference to gender-specific specialization.
Biography
Christopher S. Colwell is a Neuroscientist who has served on the UCLA School of Medicine faculty since he joined the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences in 1997. He became a Professor in 2008. Dr. Colwell earned his B.S. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University in 1985. During this time, he started his research in circadian rhythms under the mentorship of Dr. T. Page. Dr. Colwell earned his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Virginia in 1991. His thesis work explored the neural mechanisms by which light regulates circadian rhythms. Dr. Colwell continued this line of research during a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia with Dr. G. Block. A second postdoctoral fellowship was carried out on the topics of motor control and excitotoxicity in the laboratory of Dr. M. Levine at UCLA. Dr. Colwell learned how to utilize imaging techniques to measure calcium levels inside neurons while a visiting scientist in the laboratory of Dr. Konnerth at the University of Saarland, Germany. Since Dr. Colwell’s faculty appointment at UCLA, his laboratory’s research has focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms in mammals. Dysfunction in the timing these daily cycles is a key symptom in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Better understanding the basic biology of this timing system should result in new therapies to improve the quality of life of these patients and the people who care for them.