Download Dr. Aizenman`s Biosketch - Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
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NAME
POSITION TITLE
Aizenman, Elias
Professor
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
Aizenman
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing,
and include
postdoctoralAND
training.)
INSTITUTION
LOCATION
DEGREE
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
Boston University, Boston MA
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
BS
1977-1981
Biology
PhD
1981-1985
Toxicology
Postdoc
1985-1987
Neuroscience
A. Personal Statement
Acute and chronic injurious processes in the brain lead to the activation of signaling cascades that eventually
result in the demise of neurons. In Dr. Aizenman's laboratory, molecular pathways leading to cell death are
being carefully dissected in order to provide novel therapeutic targets to treat neurodegenerative disorders.
This laboratory works on potential common final mediators of cell death signaling events that can be effectively
targeted to treat neural disorders. This work is primarily focused on acute neuronal injury, such as stroke,
although the results obtained from these studies could have broader applications to more chronic
neurodegenerative conditions. Over the last 23 years, the laboratory has investigated and characterized redox
and photic regulation of NMDA receptors, excitotoxicity mechanisms, dopamine oxidation pathways, zincmediated neurotoxicity, Kv2.1 potassium channel facilitated forms of neuronal apoptosis, and zinc receptor
physiology, among other topics.
B. Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
1987-1989
1989
1989-1994
1994-2001
20012010-
Instructor, Neurology and Neuroscience, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Med. Sch.
Assistant Professor, Neurology and Neuroscience, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Med. Sch.
Assistant Professor, Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Professor, Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Morphology, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
Memberships
American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (1981-present); Society for Neuroscience (1982present; Program Committee, 1997-2000); American Society for Cell Biology (2002-present); International
Neurotoxicology Association (2007-present); International Society for Zinc Biology (2007-present; Founding
Member, 2007; Board of Directors, 2007-present; Meetings Committee, 2007-present; Membership
Committee, 2007-2009; President-elect, 2010; President, 2011-2012).
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
1994-1998 Member, NIH BRRT-B Study Section
2012-2018 Member, NIH NOMD Study Section
1992-
Ad Hoc Reviewer: Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Minority Biomedical Research Support
Program (NIGMS), The Welcome Trust, US-Israel Bi-national Science Foundation, Israel
Science Foundation, NIH ARRA Challenge grants, NOMD Study Section (NINDS).
Honors
1981
1981
1981
1985-1987
1987-1989
1997
2006
2010
2011-2012
Summa Cum Laude with Distinction in Biology, Boston University
Phi Beta Kappa
Boston University Alumni Award, Biology
National Research Service Award in Developmental Neurology
Fight for Sight Research Fellowship
NARSAD Independent Investigator Award
Dozor Visiting Scholar, Ben-Gurion University
President-Elect, International Society for Zinc Biology
President, International Society for Zinc Biology
C. Selected Publications (from 109)
Aizenman, E., A.K. Stout, K.A. Hartnett, K.E. Dineley, B.A. McLaughlin and I.J. Reynolds. Induction of neuronal
apoptosis by thiol oxidation: Putative role of intracellular zinc release. Journal of Neurochemistry 2000;
75:1878-1888. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11032877
McLaughlin, B.A., S. Pal, M.P. Tran, A.A. Parsons, F.C. Barone, J.A. Erhardt and E. Aizenman. p38 activation
is required upstream of potassium current enhancement and caspase cleavage in oxidant-induced neuronal
apoptosis. Journal of Neuroscience 2001; 21:3303-3311. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11331359
McLaughlin, B.A., K.A. Hartnett, J.A. Erhardt, J.J. Legos, R.F. White, F.C. Barone and E. Aizenman.
Sublethal caspase activation is essential for neuroprotection during ischemic preconditioning. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 2003; 100, 715-720. PMCID: PMC141062
Pal, S., K.A. Hartnett, J.M. Nerbonne, E.S. Levitan and E. Aizenman. Mediation of neuronal apoptosis by
Kv2.1-encoded potassium channels in rat cortical neurons in vitro. Journal of Neuroscience 2003; 23: 47984802. PMCID: PMC2945225
Land P.W. and E. Aizenman. Zinc accumulation after target loss: an early event in retrograde degeneration of
thalamic neurons. European Journal of Neuroscience 2005; 21:647-657. PMCID: PMC2951598
Redman, P.Y., K. He, K.A. Hartnett, B.S. Jefferson, L. Hu, P.A. Rosenberg, E.S. Levitan and E. Aizenman.
Apoptotic surge of potassium currents is mediated by p38 phosphorylation of Kv2.1. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences (USA) 2007; 104:3568-3573. PMCID: PMC1805571
Knoch, M.E., K.A. Hartnett, H. Hara, K. Kandler and E. Aizenman. Microglia induce neurotoxicity via
intraneuronal Zn2+ release and a K+ current surge. Glia 2008 56:89-96. PMCID: PMC2561170
Aras, M.A., H. Hara, K.A. Hartnett, K. Kandler and E. Aizenman. PKC regulation of neuronal zinc signaling
mediates survival during preconditioning. Journal of Neurochemistry 2009 110:106-117. PMCID: PMC2719843
Aras, M.A., R.A. Saadi and E. Aizenman. Zn2+ regulates Kv2.1 voltage-dependent gating and localization
following ischemia. European Journal of Neuroscience 2009; 30:2250-2257. PMCID: PMC2811322
Hershfinkel, M., K. Kandler, M.E. Knoch, M. Dagan-Rabin, M. Aras, C. Abramovitch-Dahan, I. Sekler and E.
Aizenman. Intracellular zinc inhibits KCC2 transporter activity. Nature Neuroscience 2009 12:725-727.
PMCID: PMC2737597
Redman, P.T., K.A. Hartnett, M.A. Aras, E.S. Levitan and E. Aizenman. Regulation of apoptotic potassium
currents by coordinated zinc-dependent signaling. Journal of Physiology 2009; 587:4393-4404. PMCID:
PMC2766646
He, K. and E. Aizenman. ERK signaling leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in extracellular zinc-induced
neurotoxicity. Journal of Neurochemistry 2010; 114:452-461. PMCID: PMC2910154
Chorin, E., O. Vinograd, I. Fleidervish, D. Gilad, S. Hermann, I. Sekler, E. Aizenman and M. Hershfinkel.
Upregulation of KCC2 activity by zinc-mediated neurotransmission via the mZnR/GPR39 receptor. Journal of
Neuroscience 2011; 31:12916-12926. PMCID: PMC32227684
Saadi, R.A., K. He, K.A. Hartnett, K. Kandler, M. Hershfinkel and E. Aizenman. SNARE-dependent
upregulation of potassium chloride co-transporter 2 activity after metabotropic zinc receptor activation in rat
cortical neurons in vitro. Neuroscience 2012; 210:38-46. PMCID: PMC3358579
Norris, C.A., K. He, M.G. Springer, K.A. Hartnett, J.P. Horn and E. Aizenman. Regulation of neuronal
proapoptotic potassium currents by the hepatitis C virus Nonstructural protein 5A. Journal of Neuroscience
2012; 32:8865-8870. PMCID: PMC3388847.