Rachel N. Arey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Positions

Assistant Professor: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Center for Precision Environmental Health
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas, United States

Associate Director: Cancer and Cell Biology Graduate Program - Baylor College of Medicine

Addresses

Alkek Building (Office) (Office): Alkek Building
Room: N1317.02
Houston, TX, 77030
United States
Phone: (713) 798-2955
rachel.arey@bcm.edu

Education

BA from Austin College: Sherman, TX

PhD from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: Dallas, TX; Neuroscience

Postdoctoral Fellowship at Princeton University: Princeton, NJ; Cognitive Aging, Genetics and Genomics

Professional Interests

Cognitive Aging
Learning and Memory
C. elegans genetics and genomics
Molecular underpinnings of complex behavior

Professional Statement

Research in the Arey lab focuses on identifying novel and conserved regulators of learning and memory, with focuses on cognitive aging and the genetics of neurological disorders. We use an interdisciplinary approach, combining C. elegans genetics and genomics tools along with microscopy and behavioral assays. We are particularly interested in using the tools of the worm to identify new genes that may be involved in neurological disease and finding pathways that prevent cognitive decline.

Selected Publications

Arey RN, Kaletsky R, Murphy CT.. " Nervous System-Wide Profiling of Presynaptic mRNAs Reveals Regulators of Associative Memory " Sci Reports. 2019 ;
Pubmed PMID: 31889133.
Arey RN, Stein GM, Kaletsky R, Kauffman A, Murphy CT.. " Activation of Gαq Signaling Enhances Memory Consolidation and Slows Cognitive Decline. " Neuron. 2018 ;
Pubmed PMID: 29656871.
Lakhina V*, Arey RN*, Kaletsky R*, Kauffman A,* Stein G, Keyes W, Xu D, Murphy CT.. " Genome-wide functional analysis of CREB/long-term memory-dependent transcription reveals distinct basal and memory gene expression programs. " Neuron. 2015 ;
Pubmed PMID: 25611510.
Kaletsky R*, Lakhina V*, Arey R, Williams A, Landis J, Ashraf J, Murphy CT.. " The C. elegans adult neuronal IIS/FOXO transcriptome reveals adult phenotype regulators. " Nature. 2016 ;
Pubmed PMID: 26675724.
Li LB, Lei H, Arey RN, Li P, Liu J, Murphy CT, Xu XZ, Shen K.. " The Neuronal Kinesin UNC-104/KIF1A Is a Key Regulator of Synaptic Aging and Insulin Signaling-Regulated Memory. " Curr Biol.. 2016 ;
Pubmed PMID: 26877087.
Arey RN, Murphy CT.. " Conserved regulators of cognitive aging: From worms to humans. " Behav Brain Res.. 2017 ;
Pubmed PMID: 27329151.
Arey RN, Enwright JF 3rd, Spencer SM, Falcon E, Ozburn AR, Ghose S, Tamminga C, McClung CA.. " An important role for cholecystokinin, a CLOCK target gene, in the development and treatment of manic-like behaviors. " Mol Psychiatry.. 2014 ;
Pubmed PMID: 23399917.
DiLoreto EM, Shastry S, Leptich EJ, Reilly DK, Arey RN, Srinivasan J. " Harnessing microbial tools: Escherichia coli as a vehicle for neuropeptide functional analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans " Genetics. 2026 ;
Pubmed PMID: 40794761.
Leptich EJ, Vijayakumar P, Pietryk EW, Williams MI, Rajupalem R, Arey RN.. " INS-17 acts as a nutrient deprivation signal to mediate adult IIS-regulated associative behaviors in C. elegans " PLOS Genetics. 2026 ;
Pubmed PMID: 42048395.
Hayden AN, Brandel KL, Pietryk EW, Merlau PR, Vijayakumar P, Leptich EJ, Gaytan ES, Williams MI, Ni CW, Chao HT, Rosenfeld JA, Arey RN. " Behavioral screening reveals a conserved residue in Y-Box RNA-binding protein required for associative learning and memory in C. elegans. " PLOS Genetics. 2024 ;
Pubmed PMID: 39423228.
Arey R, McClung CA.. " An inhibitor of casein kinase 1 ε/δ partially normalizes the manic-like behaviors of the ClockΔ19 mouse. " Behav Pharmacol.. 2012 Aug ; 23 (4) : 392-6.
Pubmed PMID: 22743604.
Brandel-Ankrapp K, Arey RN. " Altered glr-1 Expression after EtOH Withdrawal Is Linked to Associative Behavior Deficits in C. elegans. " eNeuro. 2026 ;
Pubmed PMID: 42469032.
Neuronal expression of bromodomain proteins alters neuronal health and peripheral protein homeostasis to promote longevity. " Genes Dev. 2026 ;
Pubmed PMID: 42562575.

Memberships

Society For Neuroscience

Genetics Society of America

Funding

Defining the Essential Long-term memory translatome: Whitehall Foundation

Identifying Neuropeptide Signals that Slow Cognitive Aging: Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty

Uncovering brain-wide molecular determinants of individual memory performance across lifespan: NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Identifying behavioral and molecular effects of perfluorinated compounds on cognitive aging: GC-CPEH NIEHS Center Pilot Project

Junior Faculty Seed Grant: Caroline Wiess Law Fund For Research in Molecular Medicine; Profiling how age-related changes in presynaptic mRNA localization and levels contribute to cognitive decline.