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Douglas Bayliss

Bayliss, Douglas A.

Primary Appointment

Professor and Chair, Pharmacology

Education

  • BS, Human Kinetics, University of Guelph
  • MSc, Human Biology, University of Guelph
  • PhD, Physiology, University of North Carolina

Contact Information

PO Box 800735
1340 Jefferson Park Ave., Pinn Hall, Room 5009A
Charlottesville, VA 22908
Telephone: 434-982-4449
Fax: 434-924-0149
Email: bayliss@virginia.edu
Website: http://pharm.virginia.edu/bayliss

Research Disciplines

Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Translational Science

Research Interests

Mechanisms of neuromodulation in central neurons

Research Description

Signaling between cells in the brain relies on electrical and chemical transmission. Ion channels traverse brain cell membranes to serve as conduits for the flow of ionic current, which creates the potential differences across the membrane that are ultimately responsible for triggering release of chemical messengers that act on nearby neurons.

Our laboratory attempts to characterize neuronal signaling in terms of identifying the molecular basis for neuronal ion channels and understanding cellular mechanisms that modulate their activity. We are particularly interested in studying those ion channels that determine intrinsic excitability of brain cells, because they are often subject to regulation by endogenous neurochemicals and since they ultimately mediate effects of many drugs, therapeutic and otherwise.

A number of technical approaches are employed in our laboratory, including chemical neuroanatomy, cellular electrophysiology in brain tissue and transfected cells, molecular biology and in vivo gene transfer. Our hope is that information combined from these different approaches will illuminate mechanisms responsible for physiological and pharmacological modulation of neuronal excitability.

Selected Publications