### Research Interests
The lab studies G protein coupled receptors and a critical modulator of their activity Regulators of G Protein Signaling (RGS proteins). RGS proteins are strongly expressed in the CNS and have unique tissue distributions. They have been proposed as novel CNS Targets and our lab has developed the only CNS penetrating inhibitor of RGS4 which has been shown to have antidepressant-like effects. They also can reduce hyperalgesia in animal models of inflammatory or neuropathic pain.
A new study identified a unique role for the G protein gene GNAO1 in human genetic epilepsies and movement disorders. Our biochemical studies have defined a critical functional difference between mutations causing the two different syndromes.
