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Thomas E. Krahe, Ph.D.
Research Associate
B.Sc. Biology, State University of Rio de Janeiro (1994)
M.Sc. Biophysics, State University of Rio de Janeiro (1997)
Ph.D. Biophysics, State University of Rio de Janeiro (2001)
Postdoctoral Training, Virginia Commonwealth University (2005)
| Office Address: | | Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology |
| | | Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Campus |
| | | Box 980629 |
| | | Richmond, VA 23298-0709 |
| Office Phone: | | (804) 827-1479 |
| FAX: | | (804) 828-9477 |
| e-mail: | | tekrahe@vcu.edu |
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY INTERESTS
The main focus of our research is on neural plasticity, the ability that neurons have of remodeling their connections. Neural plasticity is
very important from both scientific and clinical standpoints because it is thought to underlie memory formation, recovery of brain function
in diverse neurological disorders, and loss of brain function in some conditions.
We have been examining the role of neural plasticity in amblyopia, a neurological disorder affecting millions of people and characterized by
reduced vision in one eye. Research over the past decades has shown that amblyopia results from loss of brain connections relaying
information from this eye to the visual cortex. This loss of connections occurs when developmental abnormalities, such as cataracts and
strabismus, prevent normal visual experience during early childhood. We use a combination of in vivo viral mediated gene transfer
and antisense techniques to study some of the key factors involved in loss
of neural connections leading to amblyopia.
More recently, we have started examining what mechanisms regulate recovery of function in the visual cortex. We discovered a new form of
neural plasticity that induces very rapid (i.e., within a few hours) recovery of deprived eye function when normal visual experience is
restored very early during development. We are now investigating what mechanisms underlie this new form of neural plasticity.
Collectively, this type of research contributes to our understanding of how loss and recovery of brain function is regulated. Ultimately, it
should help devise new therapeutic strategies to enhance rehabilition in diverse neurological disorders.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Medina AE, Krahe TE, Ramoa AS. Restoration of neuronal plasticity by a phosphodiesterase type 1 inhibitor in a model of fetal alcohol exposure. J Neurosci. 2006 Jan 18;26(3):1057-60.
Krahe TE, Medina AE, de Bittencourt-Navarrete RE, Colello RJ, Ramoa AS. Protein synthesis-independent plasticity mediates rapid and precise recovery of deprived eye responses. Neuron. 2005 Oct 20;48(2):329-43.
Liao DS, Krahe TE, Prusky GT, Medina AE, Ramoa AS. Recovery of cortical binocularity and orientation selectivity after the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity. J Neurophysiol. 2004 Oct;92(4):2113-21.
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