Carol Ma (Huifang)

Ph.D. 2006

Thesis Title:

BACE1-dependent Facilitation of Synaptic Plasticity and Memory in TgAPP mice

Current Position:

Dentist

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical School, P. R. China
Master's degree in Medicine, 1999
Major: Human anatomy, histology, and embryology

Major Advisor(s):

Research Description:

My research interests are synaptic plasticity and memory, and neurodegenerative diseases. I study synaptic plasticity under normal and pathological conditions such as dementia. Also, I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in memory loss in Alzheimer's disease. My current research aims at understanding the roles of two molecules in synaptic plasticity under non-pathological conditions. These two molecules, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid ß peptide (Aß), have been shown to be critical for the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. To study short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity in transgenic and control mice, in vitro electrophysiological recordings from acute hippocampal slices are used.

Lab Rotations:

  • Steven Mcloon
  • Bill Engeland
  • Linda Boland
  • Karen Ashe

Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:

  • Biostatistical Methods I
  • Signal Transduction/Gene Expression
  • Stat Analysis
  • Intro to SAS Programming
  • ESL Grad Research

Selected Publications:

  • Ma H, Lesné S, Kotilinek L, Steidl-Nichols JV, Sherman M, Younkin L, Younkin S, Forster C, Sergeant N, Delacourte A, Vassar R, Citron M, Kofuji P, Boland LM, Ashe KH.Involvement of beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in amyloid precursor protein-mediated enhancement of memory and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007;104(19):8167-72.
  • Zhao M, Ma H, Wang W. Superior olivary nuclei and hearing. Progress of Anatomical Science 2000;6:3.

Conferences Attended and Presentations:

  • Society for Neuroscience annual meeting - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
    (presented posters 2003 and 2004)

Committee Members:

  • Bill Engeland (chair)
  • Karen Hsiao Ashe
  • Paulo Kofuji
  • Dezhi Liao
  • Jonathan Gewirtz

Awards and Honors:

  • President of the University Badminton Club

Professional Memberships:

  • Society for Neuroscience, since 2002

Home Town:

  • Xi'an, China, the city where the famous Terracotta Soldiers are located
Carol Ma (Huifang)