Donna Klein Email and Phone Number

-Developed and optimized potency assay to show efficacy of a cell therapy.-Identified novel mechanisms of action for cell therapy to protect against retinal degeneration.-Managed both internal and external collaborations to further understanding of cell therapies in retinal degeneration.

- Examined roles of synaptic activity and cathepsins in modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage and amyloid beta secretion in primary neurons- Evaluated role of beta secretase-mediated cleavage of an orphan G-protein coupled receptor and its effect on neurite outgrowth.- Designed high-throughput, quantitative assay for synaptic density using Cellomics ArrayScan in order to assess mechanisms of amyloid beta–induced synaptic pruning.

- Used an in vitro model of traumatic brain injury to show that activation of NMDA receptors after trauma depended on both location (e.g. synaptic vs. extrasynaptic) and subunit composition.- Investigated how glutamate stimulation of either NR2A- or NR2B-containing NMDA receptors differentially affects MAP kinase signaling and excitotoxicity. - Assessed mechanisms by which mitochondria are transported along axonal/dendritic cytoskeleton.- Mentored undergraduate and graduate student research projects.

Developed and characterized a fully defined in vitro model of traumatic brain injury.Measured alterations in cytosolic calcium after mechanical injury as a function of the applied strain rate and magnitude.Evaluated the magnitude and temporal profile of mechanically-induced increases in plasma membrane permeability in primary cortical and hippocampal neurons.