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Lori Flanagan-Cato
Associate Professor of Psychology Member of the Neuroscience Graduate Group,
Office: D18 Solomon Lab Building
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In general, the research in my laboratory examines the effect of estrogen
on neural circuitry in the female rat brain. Estrogen induces neural plasticity
in various brain regions, including the hypothalamus, which allows the
modulation of reproductive and ingestive behaviors in adult female rodents
according to the phase of the estrus cycle. The research in my laboratory
capitalizes on multidisciplinary approaches to study these neurohormonal
interactions. For instance, techniques range from behavioral analysis,
receptor localization, tracing studies, pharmacological analyses, and molecular
studies of the regulation of transcription. Recent efforts include
the use of various anatomical methods to elucidate behaviorally relevant neural pathways. In
addition, we are using Lucifer Yellow to characterize the effect of estrogen
on the density of dendritic spines in the hypothalamus. This research
is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Calizo, L.H. and L.M. Flanagan-Cato. Hormonal-neural integration in the female rat ventromedial hypothalamus: triple labeling from estrogen receptor-a, retrograde tract tracing from the periaqueductal gray, and mating-induced Fos expression. Endocrinology 144:5430-5440, 2003.
LABORATORY MEMBERS:
Lori Flanagan-Cato, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology.
Lori was born in Bronx, New York. She received her B.A. in Psychology
from Rutgers College (1985), and her Ph.D. from University of Pittsburgh
(1990). She also was a postdoctoral fellow at The Rockefeller University
(1990-1993) and University of Pennsylvania (1993-1994) before she joined
the Psychology Department (1994).
Cara F. Harley. Graduate student in Neuroscience. Cara was born near Buffalo, New York. She received her B.A. in Neuroscience from University of Pittsburgh (2002).
Gerald Griffin. Graduate student in Neuroscience. Gerald was born in Columbus, GA. He received his BA in Neurobiology from Cornell University (2003).
Elena Weinreb. Laboratory technician. Elena was
born in Boston, MA. She received her B.A. in Biological Basis of Behavior from the
University of Pennsylvania (2005).
GRADUATES/FORMER MEMBERS
Suresh Shelat. Former graduate student in Neuroscience.
Suresh was born in New Jersey. He received his B.S. in
Molecular Biology from MIT (1991). He received
his Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.D. from University of Pennsylvania (1998, 1999).
Suresh is presently working as an Assistant Professor in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His email
address is shelat@mail.med.upenn.edu
Lyngine Calizo. Former graduate student in Neuroscience.
Lyngine was born in Manila, Philippines. She received her B.S. in
Physiology from University of California San Diego (1992). She received
her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Pennsylvania (2002).
Lyngine is presently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Delaware. Her email
address is lcalizo@mail.med.upenn.edu
Derek Daniels, Ph.D. Former graduate student in Psychology.
Derek was born in Buffalo, New York. He received his B.A. in Psychology
from Canisius College (1995). He received his Ph.D. in Psychology
from University of Pennsylvania (2001). He has worked as
a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary
Medicine, and he has accepted an Assistant Professorship at SUNY Buffalo Department of Psychology. Derek's email address is derekd@vet.upenn.edu
Megan Dailey. Former laboratory technician. Megan
was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her B.A. in Biopsychology
from University of South Florida (1997). She is presently a graduate
student at Georgia State University.
Jennifer King. Former laboratory technician. Jen was
born in Washington, DC. She received her B.S. in Psychology from
Notre Dame University (1995). She is presently in medical school at University of Iowa.
Meagan O'Brien Harvard Medical School
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FORMER HONORS THESIS UNDERGRADUATES
Jason Blechman NYU Law School
Christine Curley University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Valerie Cluzet
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Sheena Nahm
Jonathan Liang
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Daniel Kahn
Erik Curtis