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Thomas H. McNeill

Dr. Thomas H. McNeill, PhD is Vice Chair of the Department of Cell and Neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and is also a professor of Neurogerontology and Neurology. The overall goal of Dr. McNeill's research program is to define the cellular mechanisms that regulate the ability of the brain to repair itself in response to injury (i.e. neuroplasticity) and the effect of aging on these processes. The knowledge gained from his research has relevance for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders commonly associated with brain injury as well as in the treatment of neurological deficits associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and stroke. Dr. McNeill is the principal investigator of the Interdisciplinary Center grant entitled "Interdisciplinary Studies of Neuroplasticity and Stroke Rehabilitation."

Positions & Honors

Positions

2005- present Vice Chair, Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angelese
2000- present Professor, Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1998- present Professor, Department of Cell and Neurobiology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles/td>
1995- present Professor, Division of Neurogerontology, Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1993-1998 Director, Gerontology Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1993 Acting Director/Associate Dean, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1988-1995 Associate Professor, Division of Neurogerontology, Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
1987-1988 Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester, New York

Selected Honors & Awards

2007-2008 Excellence in Teaching, Year I Medical Curriculum-Gross Anatomy
2000-2002 Excellence in Teaching, Year I Medical Curriculum-Neuroscience
1999-2000 Excellence in Teaching, Year I Medical Curriculum-Gross Anatomy
1998-1999 Excellence in Teaching Award - Keck School of Medicine
1993-1994 Excellence in Teaching Award - School of Gerontology
1985-1990 Research Career Development Award - National Institute on Aging
1985-1990 Research Career Development Award - National Institute on Aging

Education

Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY Postdoc 1981 Neurobiology
Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY PhD 1980 Neurobiology
Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO M.S. 1974 Anatomy
Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO B.S. 1971 Biological Science

Current Research Support

P20 - RR- 020700 McNeill (PI) 9/04 - 8/09
NIH
Title: New Directions in Stroke Neurorehabilitation
The studies proposed use an interdisciplinary approach to examine the synergy between neural plasticity and treatment strategies that promote the recovery of upper limb motor function after stroke-induced brain injury. The long-term goals of our study are: 1) to broaden our understanding of the key factors that modulate neuroplasticity and the recovery of function after brain injury, and 2) build a foundation of interdisciplinary scientific knowledge that can be used in the development of innovative and more effective therapeutic interventions to enhance the health and independence of persons with post-stroke disabilities.
Role: Principal Investigator

RO1- MH059776 Russo-Neustadt (PI) 7/04 - 6/09
NIMH
Title: Exercise, Antidepressants and BDNF Induction
These studies will investigate how exercise and antidepressants can protect against neuronal degeneration brought about by stress and other insults. Specifically, we will test the hypotheses that: 1) exercise and antidepressant treatment will activate and converge upon signaling pathways activated by noradrenergic mechanisms, in particular CREB and BDNF, and 2) the combination of these interventions will have an additive effect in preventing stress-induced impairments in hippocampal function (represented by spatial learning) and dendritic atrophy of CA3 pyramidal neurons.
Role: Co-Investigator

Selected Publications

  1. Davis J.H., Moore C., Meshul C. and McNeill T.H. (2008) Adaptive neuroplastic and behavioral responses to cortical Lesion are strain dependent. Experimental Neurology (submitted)
  2. Gopalakrishna R, Gundimeda U, Schiffman J, and McNeill TH. (2008) A direct redox regulation of protein kinase C isoenzymes mediates oxidant-induced neuritogenesis in PC 12 cells. J. Biol. Chem 283:14430-14444.
  3. Kong S., Lorenzana A., Deng Q., McNeill TH., Schauwecker E. (2008) Variation in Gair 1 expression determines susceptibility to excitotoxin induced cell death in mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior 7:587-98.
  4. Davis E.J.H., Coyne C. and McNeill T.H. (2007) Intrastriatal Dopamine D1 Antagonism Dampens Neural Plasticity in Response to Motor Cortex Lesion. Neuroscience 2007 146(2):784-91.
  5. Ferguson, M., Schauwecker, P.E., Tong, J. and McNeill, T.H. (2006). Up-regulation of the growth-associated proteins, SCG10 and stathmin, in the crossed perforant pathway after a unilateral entorhinal cortex lesion. Neuroscience (submitted).
  6. Ferguson, M., Jiang, T., Cheng, H.W., and McNeill, T.H. (2006). Attenuation of the age-related decline in reactive fiber outgrowth in the dentate gyrus following entorhinal cortex injury by caloric restriction. Science
  7. Ferguson, M., Rebrin I., and McNeill, T.H. (2006). The effect of glutathione depletion on reactive synaptogenesis in the hippocampus. J. Neurochem.
  8. Hughes-Davis, E.J., Cogen, J.P, Jakowec, M.W., Cheng, H.W., Grenningloh, G., Meshul, C.K. and McNeill, T.H. (2005). Differential Regulation of the Growth-Associated Proteins GAP-43 and Superior Cervical Ganglion 10 in Response to Lesions of the Cortex and Substantia Nigra in the Adult Rat. Neuroscience 135:1231-1239.
  9. Jakowec, M.W., Nixon K, Hogg, E, McNeill, T.H. and Petzinger, G.M. (2004). Tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter expression following 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine-induced neurodegeneration of the mouse nigrostriatal pathway. J Neurosci Res.77:378-390.
  10. Jakowec, M. W., Fisher, B, Nixon, K., Hogg, L., Meshul, C., Bremmer, S., McNeill, T.H. and Petzinger, G.M. (2003). Neuroplasticity in the MPTP-lesioned Mouse and Non-human Primate. Ann NY Acad. Sci., 991:298-302.
  11. McNeill, T.H., Brown, S.A., Cheng, H.W. and Meshul, C. (2003). Synapse replacement in the striatum of the adult rat following unilateral cortex ablation. J. Comp. Neurol. 467:32-43.