Nikhil Urs, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
Research Profile
Dopamine (DA) is a catecholamine neurotransmitter found in the mammalian brain and regulates many critical physiological processes such as movement, cognition, motivation, reward/pleasure, and hormone regulation. Dysfunction of the dopamine system has been implicated in many brain disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), schizophrenia, OCD, and ADHD. The goal of the Urs Lab is to study the role of genetic and environmental factors on dopamine neurotransmission and to learn more about the dopamine system by deciphering, a) signaling pathways involved in DA neurotransmission, b) functional dopamine neuronal circuits, and c) how these integrate and manifest behaviorally in an organism (mouse). Using these integrated approaches—in parallel—will allow us to fine-tune dopamine neurotransmission and devise novel drug- and gene-based therapeutic approaches to treat dopamine-related disorders such as PD and schizophrenia.
Areas of Interest
- Dopamine circuit mapping
- Dopamine neurotransmission
- Neuropharmacology
- Parkinson’s disease
- Schizophrenia
Publications
Academic Articles
Grants
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Role of cortical catecholamines in regulating motivated behavior and striatal dopamine
Active
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH
-
Role of Dopamine receptor-expressing cortical projection circuits in cognitive flexibility
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIMH
-
The Norepinephrine transporter as a therapeutic target for treatment of alpha-synuclein pathology in PD
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
-
Exploiting Dopamine Receptor Functional Selectivity as an Approach to Treat Parkinson’s Symptoms
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- DUKE UNIVERSITY via NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
-
Role of cortical catecholamines in the action of stimulants in ADHD therapy
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION
-
Exploiting Dopamine Receptor Functional Selectivity as an Approach to Treat Parkinson’s Symptoms
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- DUKE UNIVERSITY via NATL INST OF HLTH NINDS
-
Screening and identification of beta-arrestin biased Dopamine receptor ligands for PD symptom therapy
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- FOX FOU, MICHAEL J
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Regulation of Dopamine Transporter Function by G Protein
- Role:
- Principal Investigator
- Funding:
- NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA
Contact Details
- Business:
- (352) 294-5727
- Business:
- nikhilurs@ufl.edu
- Business Mailing:
-
PO BOX 100267
GAINESVILLE FL 326100267 - Business Street:
-
1200 NEWELL DR
GAINESVILLE FL 32610