Our laboratory is investigating the physiological mechanisms governing the chemical senses. Presently our investigation is divided between two main projects.

1. SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION. We are studying the functional odorant to electrical signal transduction in the vertebrate vomeronasal organ to understand how pheromone /reproductive information is processed in the brain.

2. NEUROMODULATION. We are studying how neurotrophins, growth factors, and cytoplasmic protein kinases can utilize ion channels as substrates for phosphorylatio n to give rise to short-term and long-term plastic changes in synaptic efficacy or to aid in the establishment of neural circuits in the olfactory bulb.