Balice-Gordon Lab

Lab Description

We study the cellular and molecular interactions among neurons, their targets and the surrounding glia that underlie synapse formation and function during neural development. We use neuromuscular synapses between motor neurons and muscle fibers in mice and zebrafish, and CNS synapses among rat and mouse hippocampal neurons in vitro, as relatively simple, accessible and easily manipulated model systems. We use imaging, genetic, cellular, molecular and electrophysiological approaches in our research projects.

The goal of our work is to understand the rules by which the neural circuits that underlie particular behaviors become synaptically connected during neural development, what governs the plasticity of these circuits, what goes wrong with these circuits in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, and how we might design and implement effective therapeutic strategies.

Lab Contact Info

Rita Balice-Gordon, Ph.D.
Professor, Dept. of Neuroscience
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
423 Johnson Pavilion / 6074
Office: (215) 898-1037 423 Johnson Pavilion
Lab: (215) 898-3575 407, 414, 417, 420 Johnson Pavilion
Zebrafish facility: (215) 898-0978 201 Stemmler
Fax: (215) 573-9122
Email: rbaliceg@mail.med.upenn.edu