Neuroscience

Sanika Chirwa
Director of Graduate Studies
PhD
Phone: (615) 327-6934
Email: schirwa@mmc.edu Office Location: West Basic Science Building, Room 3234




Neuroscience represents the broad study of the brain and behavior. The areas of particular emphasis in the research laboratories of faculty in this program at Meharry Medical College are degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease; neuronal plasticity, such as occurs in learning and memory as well as in disease, including addictions; and fundamental mechanisms controlling brain signaling, such as neurotransmitter transporters that regulate transmitter availability and neurotransmitter receptors that initiate chemical and electrical signaling mechanisms. Studies range from quantitative observations on the electrical activity of single molecules to the in vivo behavior in animal model systems and in human beings. The neuroscience graduate program at Meharry Medical College aims to significantly contribute to the production of the next generation of neuroscientists by training students to conduct basic, translational, clinical, social and behavioral research to generate new knowledge that will contribute to the nation's effort to reduce health disparities in the areas of neurological disease, mental health as well as drug abuse and addiction, including alcoholism.

Training Faculty

Clivel C. Charlton
Twum A. Ansah
Sanika Chirwa
Guo-Huang Fan
Darryl B. Hood
Habibeh Khoshbouei
Sukhbir Mokha

 

The overall goal of the graduate program in neuroscience is to provide graduate students with a solid foundation for a career in neuroscience research and teaching, with the specific objectives to:

For the well qualified student, completion of the PhD program in Neuroscience takes 5-5 ½ years.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience Electives
(a) Meharry Medical College
PHAR 722 Neuropharmacology (3 credits)
PHAR 723 Toxicology (3 credits)

(b) Vanderbilt Courses
NURO 325 Neuroscience Foundations (2 credit)
NURO 345 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (4 credits)

Neuroscience Courses in Development at Meharry Medical College System Neuroscience
Neurobiology of Disease Drug Addiction Dissertation Research
Seminar in Neuroscience

General Elective Courses
Other graduate courses offered at Meharry or other campuses as deemed appropriate by the COI. Please update the catalog with the above courses. Let me know if you need additional information.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE

PHYS 709. ADVANCED NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
A functional approach to nervous system mechanisms. Topics include sensory and motor mechanisms, sensory motor integration and higher functions. The course will include lectures, selected literature discussions and essay examinations. 3 credits. Prerequisite: Human Physiology. (Substitute for Systems Neuroscience)

PHYS 712. SEMINAR IN PHYSIOLOGY
Weekly discussion of current topics in neuroscience research and of research within the division of neurobiology and neurotoxicology.

PHYS 714. RESEARCH IN PHYSIOLOGY
Participation and credit in this course are arranged by the COI of students working on theirPhD thesis research. Required of all students who are candidates for the doctoral degree

PHYS 721. DISSERTATION RESEARCH
PhD thesis research. Required of all students who are candidates for the doctoral degree

PHYS 723. BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY/NEUROBIOLOGY
This lecture and laboratory course will explore those aspects of physiology/neurobiology having the most bearing on overt behavior. It will offer perspectives on both current and persistent problems regarding the understanding of perceptual systems and behavior, and examine the neurotransmitter, hormonal, neuropeptide modulation of behavior with respect to specific anatomical loci. Prerequisite: core curriculum. 3 credit hours

(Substitute for NURO 345. Cellullar and Molecular Neuroscience – 4 credit hours)

PHYS 724. NEURONAL PHYSIOLOGY
Advanced study of cellular processes related to nervous system functions will include aspects of neurophysiology, neurochemistry and neuroanatomy. Format will be primarily lectures and selected literature readings. Prerequisite: core curriculum. 3 credit hours

PHYS 735. GRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE.
The goal of this course is to help students achieve an integrated and correlated understanding of nervous system structure, function, dysfunction and therapeutics.
The course is taught in the following blocks:
1) excitable cells and synapses, including muscle and the autonomic nervous system;
2) anatomy of the nervous system, meninges and neuron-vasculature;
3) sensory systems;
4) motor system;
5) higher functions.
The lectures in this course are given in conjunction with our medical students, but the course director for the graduate program selects primary papers for discussion by the graduate students to link the didactic content with emerging literature and contemporary technology in neuroscience research. Graduate student exams in this course are essay, and test critical thinking skills

PHARM 722. NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
This course presents an overview of neuropharmacology, including fundamentals of receptor theory, Neurotoxicology, neurophysiology and drug abuse. Mechanisms and problems concerned with neurotransmission will be discussed. Emphasis is given to the neurochemical basis of CNS disorders and drug intervention. Lecturers, current literature, discussions are included. 3 credit hours (Shockley & Staff)

PHARM 723. TOXICOLOGY
Principles involved in toxicity of drug and chemical agents will be presented. Topics include xenobiotic biotransformation, toxicokinetics, chemical carcinogenesis, neurotoxicology, metal toxicity, toxic response of skin & respiratory system & occupational toxicology. Toxicological mechanisms of action, rationale for therapeutic measures against effects of toxic chemical agents, and the basis for toxicological pathology, Current issues in toxicology (Toxicogenomics) will also be covered. Course format includes lectures, and student involvement in critical review of current literature. 3 credit hours (Hood & Staff)

NURO xxx. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE (in development).
The importance of this course, and the rationale for its development, is to foster preparedness for interdependent collaborative research that spans from bench to beside, and also allows laboratory investigators to exploit clinical insights to inform basic science inquiries. The goal is to train scholars for participation in interdependent research across the molecular and cellular to integrative and clinical continuum. The course will foster this interdependence by both the content of the courses as well as the participation in these courses by graduate, medical, postgraduate (MD and PhD) fellows. The selection of the disease themes of this course reflect areas of research interest and strength at both Meharry and Vanderbilt, and also- in their didactic content- will allow students to become familiar with the breadth of experimental strategies and areas of scholarship (including genetics and imaging, for example) that converge to facilitate discovery to translation to clinical diagnosis and intervention

NURO xxx. ADDICTION BIOLOGY (in development).
This course introduces trainees to concepts related to drug addiction, i.e., the properties, mechanisms of action and effects of drugs of abuse. Content areas include the mechanisms of basic chemical reactions in the body, external chemical regulation of brain reward pathways and clinical interventions. The goal is to encourage trainees develop a strong interest in drug addictions, and, to value scientific research, personal experience, and professional exposure.  Trainees will learn to appreciate the complexity inherent in understanding addictions as a whole and specifically as it relates to relapse and recovery.

NURO xxx. SYSTEMS NEUROSCIENCE (in development – description pending)

Courses at Vanderbilt that may be taken as Electives in the Neuroscience emphasis program

NURO 325. NEUROSCIENCE FOUNDATIONS.
This coursediscusses historical concepts and individuals in neuroscience, so that students develop an appreciation for the history of their discipline

FUNDAMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE
This comprehensive course covers the fundamentals of the nervous system, from molecules to networks and systems. The lectures are designed to move from the pioneering work that established a research area to the recent advances in neuroscience. In addition to the didactic content of this course, the intent is to foster the discovery paradigm-breaking thinking that parallels major advances in a field.

ADVANCED MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (description pending)

LABORATORY IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE (description pending)

SPECIAL PROGRAMMATIC FEATURES of the Neuroscience Graduate Program

Neuroscience Retreat
In order to enhance the cohesiveness and visibility of the neuroscience program, a one-day Meharry-Vanderbilt Neuroscience Retreat is organized to focus on an emerging area of neuroscience. The central theme is developed by three to four faculty research presentations that move from molecules to neural systems to behavior or disease. A nationally recognized neuroscientist is invited to present a plenary lecture that relates to the central theme. The one-day program includes poster presentations by graduate students (second year and beyond) in the program, thus giving students an opportunity to get constructive input about their ongoing projects from the visiting as well as local scientists outside the program. Thus, the Spring Retreat serves as a venue for highlighting students in our program and providing valuable contacts for future career opportunities. In addition to the educational benefits, this experience will serve as a confidence builder for the students and provide time for informal scientific and social interactions. An added benefit of the Retreat is that advice is sought from the invited speaker on improvements in our training program

The Neuroscience
This was established by graduate students in 1998, and membership includes any interested graduate student doing neuroscience-related work in any department or program at Meharry or Vanderbilt. The NSO is run by students and has its own infrastructure, including a President and advisory council. The NSO organizes a biweekly Summer Seminar Series to which only students are invited. Individual students make research presentations providing an opportunity for them to discuss their research in a relaxed environment and get input from students of diverse backgrounds and interests. The NSO also coordinates an annual Spring Neuroscience Seminar with students selecting the topic and speaker, making travel and itinerary arrangements, and setting up and advertising the seminar. One of the goals of the Spring Neuroscience Seminar is to allow trainees to develop a professional network in the at-large community that will serve as a foundation for future professional endeavors. Finally, the NSO is instrumental in helping coordinate aspects of the annual Neuroscience Retreat and Brainstorm Brain Awareness Program, making this organization a dynamic and enriching component of the Neuroscience Graduate Program.