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Graduate Program in Neuroscience -> Alumni -> Jon Waataja



   

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Jon Waataja

Ph.D. 2007

Present Position: Research Scientist at EnteroMedics doing Preclinical Research

E-mail: jwaataja@enteromedics.com

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

  • University of St. Thomas, BS Biochemistry and minor in Mathematics 2002

Graduate Major Advisor(s):

Graduate Research Description:

I am interested in studying synaptic changes that occur during excitotoxic-induced neuroegeneration. Excitotoxicity is caused by the excess release of glutamate and is thought to contribute to many neurodegenerative disorders including stroke, HIV associated dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I have developed a technique to track synaptic changes along with cell viability of single neurons over time. This has given us insights into the temporal relationship as well as mechanisms of synapse loss related to cell death.

Graduate Lab Rotations:

  • David Redish
  • Karen Ashe
  • Stan Thayer

Conferences Attended:

  • Society for Neuroscience annual meeting - Fall 1999-2006

Conference Presentations:

  • Presented at Society for Neuroscience annual meeting 2000, 2005, 2006

Thesis Publications:

  • Excitotoxin-induced synapse loss is distinct temporally and mechanistically from cell death. J. Neurochem. (In press)

Recent Publications:

  • Gilbert GL, Kim HJ, Waataja JJ, Thayer SA. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol protects hippocampal neurons from excitotoxicity. Brain Res. 2007 Jan 12;1128(1):61-9. Epub 2006 Nov 30.
  • Song JH, Waataja JJ, Martemyanov KA. Subcellular targeting of RGS9-2 is controlled by multiple molecular determinants on its membrane anchor, R7BP. J Biol Chem. 2006 Jun 2;281(22):15361-9. Epub 2006 Mar 30.
  • Kim HJ, Waataja JJ, Thayer SA. (Submitted) Cannabinoids inhibit network driven synapse loss between hippocampal neurons in culture.

Graduate Committee Members:

  • Eric Newman
  • Paul Letourneau
  • Johnathan Merchant

Professional Memberships:

  • Society for Neuroscience

Home Town:

  • Golden Valley, MN
 
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