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Stephen Abbott

Abbott, Stephen B.

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology

Education

  • BS, Physiology, Psychology, University of Sydney
  • PhD, Medicine, Macquarie University
  • Post-Doc, autonomic neurobiology, University of Virginia
  • Post-Doc, Sleep-wake systems, autonomic neurobiology, Harvard University

Contact Information

1340 Jefferson Park Ave.
Pinn Hall, Room 5228
Charlottesville, VA 22908
Telephone: 434- 924-5849
Fax: 434-982-3878
Email: sba6t@virginia.edu

Research Disciplines

Cardiovascular Biology, Neuroscience

Research Interests

Neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system and the homeostatic control of breathing

Research Description

The lab studies the neural systems that control the cardiovascular and respiratory system. Cardio-respiratory function is precisely tuned to ensure the delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide across a range of physiological states. In response to sensory feedback from the body, the brain modulates lung ventilation through breathing and tissue blood flow through autonomic modulation of the circulatory system to promote cardiorespiratory homeostasis. Breakdown of this system is the cause and symptom of cardiovascular and neurological disease, such as neurogenic hypertension and Parkinson’s disease. Our goal is to identify the neural networks required for the reflex-control of cardiovascular and respiratory function, and determine the role of these systems in the changes in breathing and autonomic function observed in natural contexts (arousal state changes, stress, exercise) and animal models of cardiovascular disease (neurogenic hypertension, acute intermittent hypoxia, diet induced obesity).

Selected Publications