Kimberley Tolias

Tolias

Kimberley Tolias, Ph.D.

Professor

(713) 798-3981

Email

tolias@bcm.edu

Positions

Professor
Department of Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US
Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US

Education

PhD from Harvard Medical School
05/1998 - Boston, MA, US
Cell Biology - Signal Transduction
Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School
09/2006 - Boston, MA, US
Neuroscience
Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School
09/1999 - Boston, MA, US
Cell Biology - Signal Transduction
BS from University of Minnesota
05/1992 - Minneapolis, MN, US
Biochemistry

Professional Interests

  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating mammalian neural circuit development and plasticity in health and disease/injury
  • Formation and activity-dependent remodeling of excitatory and inhibitory synapses
  • Axonal and dendritic growth
  • Directed cell migration
  • Rho GTPase and Adhesion-GPCR signaling in the nervous system

Professional Statement

The long-term goal of our research is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neural circuit formation and plasticity in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) in the context of both health and disease/injury. A major focus of our research is elucidating how neurons sense external cues and transduce intracellular signals that direct essential processes like synapse development and remodeling, dendritic/axonal growth, and cell migration. In addition to investigating how these processes are normally regulated, we examine how dysregulation of key signaling pathways (particularly those regulating cytoskeletal dynamics) contribute to neurological disorders (e.g., intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain) and whether targeting these pathways can promote recovery following injury or disease. Our laboratory is also actively engaged in numerous collaborative projects, including examining the synaptic mechanisms underlying cognitive decline following radiation therapy and the effects of the gut microbiome on brain development and behavior. To accomplish these goals, we utilize a multidisciplinary approach, employing in vivo and in vitro rodent models and a combination of state-of-the-art genetic, molecular, cellular, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral methods.

Websites

VIICTR Publications List
Kimberly Tolias Lab

Selected Publications

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