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Robert
Kalb, M.D.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Abramson Research Center #814
3615 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 590-0691 FAX: (267) 426-5134
email:kalb@email.chop.edu
For more information about the Kalb lab: http://stokes.chop.edu/programs/neuron/
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Kalb's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Biology of nerve cells in the vertebrate central nervous system RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Gene Transfer :: Recombinant viral vectors, single cell electroporation, transgenic mice
Animals :: Rats, mice, chicken embryos
In vitro :: Primary neuronal culture (spinal cord [mixed cell and pure motor neuron], cerebellum, cerebral cortex), spinal cord explant cultures
Protein related :: Immuno-histology, -cytology, western blot, immune precipitation
Molecular biology related :: Cloning, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis
RESEARCH SUMMARY
One of the major thrusts of our work is to investigate the cellular and molecular events underlying the development of the vertebrate central nervous system. In particular, we study how synaptic activity guides the formation of neuronal architecture and synaptic connectivity. The role of specific glutamate receptor subunits and downstream signaling cascades are under active study. We investigate these issues in the spinal cord with particular emphasis on motor neuron development.
A second portion of the laboratory investigates the control of sensitivity of motor neurons to toxic insult. Using tissue culture models we are investigating the ability of trophic factors to render motor neurons vulnerable to insult. The intracellular signaling systems that are involved in this phenomena are under active study.
These avenues of research are relevant to a number of clinical conditions including Spinal Cord Injury (i.e., traumatic, ischemic) and Motor Neuron Diseases (i.e., Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)). Translation of our experimental work into new therapy for these disorders is our primary long-term goal.
