Areas of Interest
Functional imaging of neural activity, synaptic physiology, cardiac electrophysiology, mechanisms and functional signatures of autism in model systems.

Research Areas
Dr. Acker’s lab focuses on developing and applying advanced quantitative techniques from computational modeling to imaging to look at neurophysiology and cardiac electrophysiology in new, more direct and powerful ways. The lab’s goal is to help accelerate our understanding of fundamental human physiology in order to find improved strategies for the prevention or treatment of cardiac and neurological disorders.

Voltage sensor development: together with Dr. Yan and Dr. Loew, Dr. Acker’s lab is actively testing and improving existing voltage sensors, which can be used in studies of the heart or brain, including studies of single cells up to whole organs. At the same time, new sensors are being developed for improved performance, allowing higher resolution, more accurate, and reliable measurements.

Neurodevelopmental disorders: in disorders such as autism, many genetic variations involving components of synapses, the chemical connections between neurons (brain cells), have been implicated. The functional implications of these variations can be studied at the level of single synapses as well as the network level, where altered synaptic signals ultimately lead to changes in patterns of brain activity. Better understanding the connection between the molecular (proteins and receptors) level changes in autism and the network (neuronal firing patterns and synaptic plasticity) level changes will improve our understanding of this disorder and provide new platforms for searching for new treatments or interventions.

Not accepting students for Lab Rotations at this time

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