WHO WE ARE

The Jefferson Synaptic Biology Center

The mission of the Synaptic Biology Center is to foster discoveries that will drive new understanding of the cellular and molecular functioning of the nervous system.

The human brain is made up of a complex network of cells and circuits. The functional neural circuits are controlled by highly specialized sites of cell-cell contact known as synapses. Not only do these connections enable us to perceive, learn from, and interact with our environment, but defects in the structure, function, and density of synapses are associated with severe neurological diseases such as Fragile-X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), epilepsy, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, we remain limited by the rudimentary current understanding of synapses and how they function. Our Center will address this limitation by expanding our understanding of synaptic structure and function and thereby fill a key need in modern neuroscience.

Significant efforts currently are devoted to applying basic neuroscience discoveries made in the last 10-20 years to target diseases. Yet even with our existing wealth of knowledge, we are unlikely to solve all neurological disorders. Therefore, there is a critical need to invest further in our understanding of the basic function of the brain. Building on a strong core of faculty at Thomas Jefferson University, the Synaptic Biology Center will develop outside resources, tools to support the work of investigators in other teams at Jefferson, and a plan to build the Center into a leading program. By supporting and coordinating much of the fundamental neuroscience research at Jefferson, the Synaptic Biology Center will provide valuable added support to and opportunities for cross-cutting and translational research, improve Jefferson’s standing as a leading research institution and enable transformative discovery-based science to thrive.

Current members

Former members