Nathan Cramer Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Md

My research in the laboratory of Dr. Asaf Keller examines how the neural circuitry responsible for the perception of pain is altered by disease or injury. In particular, I am interested in understanding how defects in pain modulatory pathways contribute to chronic pain and developing strategies to restore the efficacy of these regulatory networks.

Bethesda, Md

My research focus as a faculty member at America's Medical School examines the impact of physical and psychological stress on inflammation and blood brain barrier disruption in the central nervous system. I use a combination of imaging, behavioral, molecular and electrophysiological techniques to examine how these types of insults drive the neuropathology that ultimately affects cognition. As a member of the Galdzicki laboratory I've developed models of traumatic brain injury, high altitude… Show more My research focus as a faculty member at America's Medical School examines the impact of physical and psychological stress on inflammation and blood brain barrier disruption in the central nervous system. I use a combination of imaging, behavioral, molecular and electrophysiological techniques to examine how these types of insults drive the neuropathology that ultimately affects cognition. As a member of the Galdzicki laboratory I've developed models of traumatic brain injury, high altitude exposure and sleep fragmentation as well as image analysis pipelines for 3D reconstruction of vascular networks and microglia from CLARITY processed tissue and in vivo 2-photon microscopy. In addition to my research, I participate in the teaching and mentoring of students in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. Show less

Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences

My current research in the Galdzicki Laboratory at USUHS examines the genetic and epigenetic contributions of adaptation to multiple stressors. We are particularly interested in how harsh environmental conditions might leave individuals susceptible to the development of PTSD following psychological stress. We developed a mouse model of multi-modal stress exposure that allows us to correlate stress-induced changes in behavior with perturbations in neural network functioning and transcriptome of… Show more My current research in the Galdzicki Laboratory at USUHS examines the genetic and epigenetic contributions of adaptation to multiple stressors. We are particularly interested in how harsh environmental conditions might leave individuals susceptible to the development of PTSD following psychological stress. We developed a mouse model of multi-modal stress exposure that allows us to correlate stress-induced changes in behavior with perturbations in neural network functioning and transcriptome of key brain regions. We believe that the identification of epigenetic mechanisms which contribute to PTSD onset and persistence by altering neural network functioning will lead to more effective treatment options for individuals suffering from this disorder.We are also investigating the role of microglia activation and vasculature disruption in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury. The interaction between a compromised blood brain barrier, microglia and neurons following brain trauma is not always beneficial and can contribute to long term adverse neurological deficits. Understanding how microglia react to these injuries and how their reaction could be biased towards recovery will be critical for preventing or reversing resulting neuropathological deficits. A common theme across these investigations is how alterations in neuronal networks leads to behavioral and/or cognitive dysfunction. Along these lines, we are investigating how the overexpression of genes triplicated in Down syndrome change the properties of networks in regions of the brain that play key roles in learning and memory. In collaboration with Dr. Tarik Haydar at Boston Univeristy, we study a mouse model of Down syndrome, the Ts65Dn mouse, in which many murine orthologs of human genes on chromosome 21 are triplicated. Through a combination of molecular, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical approaches we are better understanding how changes in gene dosage adversely affect cognition. Show less

• Developed hypotheses, performed experiments and presented results of data analysis in support of a multi-university research collaboration to understand neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in Down syndrome.• Designed and carried out research investigating the potential of neuroprogenitor cells to rebuild brain tissue damaged by traumatic brain injury• Coordinated development of an experimental mouse model of high-altitude exposure to investigate resulting… Show more • Developed hypotheses, performed experiments and presented results of data analysis in support of a multi-university research collaboration to understand neurophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits in Down syndrome.• Designed and carried out research investigating the potential of neuroprogenitor cells to rebuild brain tissue damaged by traumatic brain injury• Coordinated development of an experimental mouse model of high-altitude exposure to investigate resulting epigenetic changes Show less

Ithaca, Ny

• Developed and validated a mouse model for spinal cord injury to investigate changes in neuronal networks responsible for locomotion below the lesion site.• Mentored undergraduate students in project development and laboratory techniques.

• Investigated fundamentals of motor control and pattern generation by the central nervous system• Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Project Award 2007

• Assisted in the development of the Johns Hopkins Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response• Worked with biotechnology companies to develop and test chemical and biological agent detection devices

Doctor Of Philosophy, Neuroscience

Bachelor Of Science, Physics Jun