Wikipedia

Annalisa Scimemi

Annalisa Scimemi (born 1975) is a neuroscientist on the faculty of the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY).

Annalisa Scimemi
OccupationNeuroscientist
Academic background
EducationB.S., Università di Pisa Ph.D.,Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste
Academic work
DisciplineBiophysics
InstitutionsState University of New York at Albany
National Institutes of Health

Early life and education

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Born in Tuscany in 1975,[1] Annalisa Scimemi studied biological sciences at the Università di Pisa (1993–1998) as a first-generation college student.[2] Scimemi earned her Ph.D. in biophysics from Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) in Trieste, Italy, studying rhythmic circuits as they relate to locomotor-like behaviors.[2] Her thesis focused on the biophysical properties of calcium activated potassium channels in human erythrocyte in Steiner disease.[2]

Career

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In 2002, Scimemi traveled to the United Kingdom to join a lab at University College London.[3] At UCL, Scimemi studied synapses and neurotransmitter spillover and worked with professors Dimitri M. Kullmann, Dmitri A. Rusakov, Matthew C. Walker, and others.[3]

In 2005, Scimemi moved to the United States to join the Synaptic Physiology Unit, with Jeffrey S. Diamond, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.[1] The goal of her work there was, "to understand the synaptic connections between brain cells and ultimately to get a better idea of how different drugs work".[1] At NIH, she continued to study synapses, looking more specifically at the role of neuronal glutamate transporters in hippocampal synapses.[1][3] She earned an appointment as Research Fellow at NIH in 2010.[4][better source needed]

Scimemi joined the faculty of SUNY Albany in 2013. She became an associate professor at SUNI in 2019.[4]

Research

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Scimemi studies synaptic structure and transmission, astrocytic control, synaptic transmission, and the synaptic basis of neuropsychiatric disorders, using techniques such as electrophysiology, optogenetics, two-photon imaging, and reaction-diffusion computer simulations.[2][5] Scimemi's previous research focused on how the synaptic transmission changes in the hippocampus with the circadian cycles.[2]

Scimemi's software providing biophysical modeling of neurons (allowing distribution of "synaptic inputs onto digitally reconstructed neurons")[6] was described in one of Scientific Reports' 100 most-downloaded research studies in 2023.[7]

Awards, honors, and service

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  • In 2023, Scimemi received a $461,104 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, for her research on neuronal circuits in spatial map representation, titled "Presynaptic Modulation of Synaptic Inhibition onto Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons".[8]
  • At the end of 2022, Scimemi was awarded $1.16 million "to study molecular and cellular processes that contribute to Alzheimer's disease onset".[9]
  • In 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a grant of $1.24 million dollars for a project led by Scimemi at the University of Albany.[10][11] In collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association, this project focused on using electrophysiology to understand how hormones affect the storage and formation of memories throughout the day.[10]
  • Scimemi serves as president and local Chapter Representative for the Hudson-Berkshire Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN). She also served as a top reviewer for The Journal of Neuroscience Editorial Board Committee of the Society for Neuroscience.[12]
  • The board of the Organization for Computational Neuroscience (CNS) appointed her to serve on the CNS Program Committee from 2020 to 2022.[13][14][15]
  • In 2013, Scimemi chaired the Nanosymposium on Presynaptic Dynamics of the Society for Neuroscience.[3]
  • In 2013, Scimemi received the Grass Imaging Award from The Grass Foundation.[3]
  • Scimemi was selected a speaker on synaptic transmission at the Gordon Research Conference in 2012.[3]
  • In 2005, Scimemi received the Young Investigator Award of the International League Against Epilepsy.[3]

Selected publications

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  • Cobb, Evan A. W.; Petroccione, Maurice A.; Scimemi, Annalisa (2023-01-10). "NRN-EZ: an application to streamline biophysical modeling of synaptic integration using NEURON". Scientific Reports. 13 (1): 464. Bibcode:2023NatSR..13..464C. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-27302-8. ISSN 2045-2322. [The team]...developed an open-source application called NRN-EZ, which is accessible to users with limited programming background...The NRN-EZ code is freely accessible through our Github repository, it is easy to use and can be modified by users as they see fit.
  • Scimemi, Annalisa (2014-06-17). "Structure, function, and plasticity of GABA transporters". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 8. doi:10.3389/fncel.2014.00161. ISSN 1662-5102.
  • Scimemi, Annalisa (2014-05-13). "Plasticity of GABA transporters: an unconventional route to shape inhibitory synaptic transmission". Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 8: 128. doi:10.3389/fncel.2014.00128. ISSN 1662-5102. PMC 4026733. PMID 24860430.
  • Scimemi A, Diamond JS (2013). Deriving the time course of glutamate clearance with a deconvolution analysis of astrocytic transporter currents. J Vis Exp. (78), https://doi.org/10.3791%2F50708
  • Scimemi, Annalisa; Diamond, Jeffrey S. (2012-12-12). "The Number and Organization of Ca2+ Channels in the Active Zone Shapes Neurotransmitter Release from Schaffer Collateral Synapses". Journal of Neuroscience. 32 (50): 18157–18176. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3827-12.2012. ISSN 0270-6474. PMID 23238730.
  • Scimemi, Annalisa; Tian, Hua; Diamond, Jeffrey S. (2009-11-18). "Neuronal Transporters Regulate Glutamate Clearance, NMDA Receptor Activation, and Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus". Journal of Neuroscience. 29 (46): 14581–14595. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4845-09.2009. ISSN 0270-6474. PMID 19923291.
  • Scimemi, Annalisa; Beato, Marco (2009-12-01). "Determining the Neurotransmitter Concentration Profile at Active Synapses". Molecular Neurobiology. 40 (3): 289–306. doi:10.1007/s12035-009-8087-7. ISSN 1559-1182. PMC 2777263. PMID 19844813.
  • Scimemi, Annalisa (July 2009). "The interrelated lives of NMDA receptors and glycine transporters". The Journal of Physiology. 587 (13): 3061–3062. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2009.175976. ISSN 0022-3751. PMC 2727010. PMID 19567742.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rosenwald, Michael S. (September 4, 2006). "Odd Jobs That Keep The Area Humming - The Brain Slicer". The Washington Post. pp. D:1. ProQuest 410064132.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ribic, Adema. "Episode 22: Annalisa Scimemi, PhD". Conjugate: Illustration and Science Blog. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Loop | Annalisa Scimemi". loop.frontiersin.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ a b "Scimemi Lab - About myself". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  5. ^ "Annalisa Scimemi | Inmed". www.inmed.fr. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  6. ^ Scimemi, Annalisa (2022-10-16), scimemia/NRN-EZ, retrieved 2024-10-06
  7. ^ "Neuroscience Top 100 of 2023". Nature. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  8. ^ "Noteworthy: Research grants, awards and publications | University at Albany". www.albany.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-04. This work seeks to advance understanding of neuronal circuits involved in spatial map representation — how space is represented and interpreted in the brain — and will support future strategies to treat diseases associated with hippocampal neural circuit dysfunction such as epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder.
  9. ^ "Studying the Biology of Alzheimer's Disease: A Q&A with Annalisa Scimemi | University at Albany". www.albany.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-06. The project focuses on astrocytes, a type of non-neuronal cell in the brain, and a technique called optogenetics — using light to control brain activity. Scimemi's lab is at the forefront of this technology, which relies on a multidisciplinary blend of electrophysiology, imaging, computational and behavioral approaches.
  10. ^ a b "Tonko Announces $1.24 Million Federal Science Grant for UAlbany". Congressman Paul Tonko. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  11. ^ "Biological sciences professor receives $1.24 million to study memory | University at Albany". www.albany.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  12. ^ "Member Details". my.sfn.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  13. ^ "Program Committee 2020". www.cnsorg.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  14. ^ "Program Committee 2021". www.cnsorg.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  15. ^ "Program Committee 2022". www.cnsorg.org. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
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