Charles Greer, PhD

A major goal of the Greer laboratory is understanding the basic mechanisms that contribute to the establishment of orderly topographic maps within the CNS, during both normal development and following injury or disease. We focus our efforts on the olfactory system because of its molecular trackability, the complexity of the map between the olfactory epithelium and the olfactory bulb (OB) and the organization of radial and horizontal synaptic circuits. Consistent with the overarching goal of the WTI to understand determinants of behavior, ongoing projects include: 1) analyses of the molecular specificity olfactory sensory neuron targeting to the olfactory bulb (OB) using both in vivo and in vitro models (in collaboration with the Alain Trembleau lab, Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University, Paris); 2) dissection of the role of embryonic and adult neurogenesis, which introduces ~10,000 new interneurons to the OB daily, on the organization and topography of OB synaptic circuits and the expression of synaptic vesicle proteins at the reciprocal dendrodendritic synaptic circuits processing odor information; and 3) the developmental emergence of the 3-layer paleo- piriform cortex including the segregation of subpopulations of pyramidal neurons, their origins in the lateral ganglionic eminence, their migration to laminar-specific locations and using in utero electroporation and CRISPR, the underlying genetic mechanisms.

animal models ;  electron microscopy ;  immunocytochemistry  

circuits ;  dendrites ;  development ;  plasticity ;  synapses  

Charles Greer received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado followed by his PhD in 1978. He joined Yale as a postdoc after completing his PhD where he rose through the ranks to Full Professor. The Greer's have a passion for Welsh Corgis and two fill their home.