A Gallery: Neuroscientists in Color
Nathan Anthony Smith, PhD Neuroscientist
"My lab studies two very unique brain cells called astrocytes and microglia. Collectively, these two cell types are known as glia 鈥� which derives from the Latin word for 鈥済lue鈥�. To many, they鈥檙e nothing more than that, but to me, they are the most majestic of cells; the star and parent of the central nervous system. These cells are critically important to how our brains work 鈥� both in health and in disease.
One key aspect of their function relates to learning and memory. Many scientists think of these defining aspects of sentient life as being mediated by neurons (aka the principal 鈥渢hinking鈥� cells of the brain). And it鈥檚 certainly true that learning and memory require the formation of new neural networks however, glial cells play a critical role in how those networks are formed, nurtured and maintained.
The complex branching and interweaving of neural networks, and their ability to adapt and remodel is a core feature of neural plasticity 鈥� a concept that underlies our ability to think, remember and learn. But neural plasticity is not solely a function of neurons.
Changes in neural connections, and the remodeling of the dendritic arbor, require the action of both microglia and astrocytes. Microglia are the resident gardeners of the brain. They prune the branches of the tree 鈥� removing synapses (neural connections) that are no longer needed and permitting the addition of new synapses. Astrocytes help strengthen synaptic connections that are necessary for new neural pathways to form 鈥� and for learning and memory to develop. Collectively, astrocytes, microglia and neurons act collaboratively to make us fully human.
My scientific interests include elucidating how astrocytes and microglia play a role in multiple processes, including information processing, and synaptic plasticity 鈥� and in learning and memory. An additional goal of my research is to discover and understand new pathways that we can target therapeutically. We can start to look at glial cells as therapeutic targets, rather than looking only at neurons. To do that, we need to figure out how the whole system works 鈥� which is what my research focuses on- with the long-term aim of finding new therapeutic targets that can solve neurological diseases, and improve the quality of life of affected people."
Nathan A. Smith, MS, PhD ('13), sits for his portrait with Charmaine Wheatley, artist-in-residence at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience.
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About the Artist
Charmaine Wheatley is the Artist-in-Residence (AiR) at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and holds a faculty appointment in the School of Medicine & Dentistry. She is a visual artist whose work is held in international museum and library collections, including New York鈥檚 Museum of Modern Art. She has received numerous awards and honors, and is a lifetime AiR at The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, MA. Her recent work at 麻豆视频has involved sitting with people from stigmatized communities - including those affected by Mental Health, HIV, and Opioid Use Disorder - and working to reduce stigma through her artistic practice of narrative portraiture.
