Neurobiology Laboratory | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Skip Navigation Neurobiology Laboratory Close the left navigation Add Serena M. Dudek Sommer, Ph.D. Acting Chief, Neurobiology Laboratory and Senior Investigator Tel 984-287-3513 [email protected] Research Summary Neurobiology is an integral part of environmental health sciences. Disruption of brain development and function produces life-long effects on human cognitive potential. Consequently, both early learning disabilities and aging-related neurodegeneration have become major public health concerns. Although there are many inherited and de novo mutations that result in neurodevelopmental disorders, for example, other learning disorders, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the three most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's (ALS), all show very low concordance between monozygotic twins, implicating environmental factors in their onset and pathology. The Neurobiology Laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular processes in the developing and aging nervous system that increase its vulnerability to environmental toxicants. The Laboratory also trains new investigators in the concepts and experimental techniques of neuroscience. Investigators in the Laboratory have expertise in neuronal and glial biology at all levels of mammalian brain organization from genes to behaving animals, particularly as it relates to gene expression, neuronal development, synaptic function and plasticity, ion channel proteins, and the inflammatory response to toxicity. The schematic represents the range of scientific research taking place in the Neurobiology Laboratory. Shared and Core Facilities For more information about facilities that support research activities at the NIEHS campus, please see Shared and Core Facilities Ongoing Investigations in the Neurobiology Laboratory: Acetylcholine receptor channel function in hippocampus Mammalian brain development Microglia dysfunction during neurodegeneration Neural circuit formation and function Neural circuits underlying social behavior Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration Neurotoxicity of nicotine Regulation of gene expression in neuronal fate specification and in synaptic plasticity Regulation of synaptic plasticity in hippocampus Principal Investigators Developmental Neurobiology Patricia Jensen, Ph.D. Senior Investigator Tel 984-287-3413 [email protected] In Vivo Neurobiology Guohong Cui, M.D., Ph.D. Senior Investigator Tel 984-287-3446 [email protected] Ion Channel Physiology Jerrel L. Yakel, Ph.D. Senior Investigator Tel 984-287-3466 [email protected] Neurobehavioral Circuits Julieta E. Lischinsky, Ph.D. Stadtman Investigator Tel 984-287-4683 [email protected] Neuroepigenomics Elizabeta Gjoneska, Ph.D. Principal Investigator Tel 984-287-4544 [email protected] Neuropharmacology Jau Shyong Hong, Ph.D. (Retired) Scientist Emeritus Tel 984-287-3435 [email protected] Synaptic & Developmental Plasticity Serena M. Dudek Sommer, Ph.D. Acting Chief, Neurobiology Laboratory and Senior Investigator Tel 984-287-3513 [email protected] Scientific Support Staff Rita H. Jones Administrative Specialist Tel 984-287-3448 [email protected] Publications Recent Publications Huang C, Tzeng N, Chang Y, Hong J, Lu R. Neuroprotective, cognitive, and immunomodulatory effects of Valproic acid combined with dextromethorphan in bipolar disorder. Journal of psychiatric research 2026 Jun;197:118-124. Abstract Huang C, Tzeng N, Chang Y, Hong J, Lu R. Neuroprotective, cognitive, and immunomodulatory effects of Valproic acid combined with dextromethorphan in bipolar disorder. Journal of psychiatric research. 2026 Jun Li D, Zhang Y, Wang R, Jin L, Cui X, Hong J, Li S, Zhao J, Guo Y. Chicoric acid enhanced brain cholesterol efflux and reduced Aβ pathology via LXR-ABCA1 signaling in Alzheimer's models. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics 2026 Apr 03;23(3):e00899. Abstract Li D, Zhang Y, Wang R, Jin L, Cui X, Hong J, Li S, Zhao J, Guo Y. Chicoric acid enhanced brain cholesterol efflux and reduced Aβ pathology via LXR-ABCA1 signaling in Alzheimer's models. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics. 2026 Apr 03 Zhou J, Lischinsky J. Stereotaxic Surgery in Infant Mice and Postoperative Care. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE 2026 Mar 31 [Epub ahead of print]. Abstract Zhou J, Lischinsky J. Stereotaxic Surgery in Infant Mice and Postoperative Care. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. 2026 Mar 31 Liu J, Hou L, Ma Y, Tian L, Hong J, Zhao J, Wang Q. The C3-C3aR axis drives rotenone-induced cognitive damage via synaptic engulfment, dark microglia and PANoptosis. Redox biology 2026 Mar;90:104062. Abstract Liu J, Hou L, Ma Y, Tian L, Hong J, Zhao J, Wang Q. The C3-C3aR axis drives rotenone-induced cognitive damage via synaptic engulfment, dark microglia and PANoptosis. Redox biology. 2026 Mar Goral R, Roy S, Co C, Wine R, Lamb P, Turner P, McBride S, Usdin T, Yakel J. Mesoscopic analysis of GABAergic marker expression in acetylcholine neurons in the whole mouse brain. iScience 2026 Jan 16;29(1):114531. Abstract Goral R, Roy S, Co C, Wine R, Lamb P, Turner P, McBride S, Usdin T, Yakel J. Mesoscopic analysis of GABAergic marker expression in acetylcholine neurons in the whole mouse brain. iScience. 2026 Jan 16 More Recent Publications from PubMed Back to Top Last Reviewed: April 22, 2026