Professor, Biology
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., UCLA
Appointed In
2005
Office
Bioscience 208B
Hours
MWF: 10:30am-11:30am or by appointment
Professor Thompson鈥檚 research explores the causes and potential treatments for neurological diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson鈥檚 disease. This includes histology, pharmacology, genetic engineering, and transplantation. We use models that have included a combination of in vivo and in vitro techniques. Currently we are focused on stem cell fusion, and the use of optogenetics.
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Research Description
The Thompson Lab investigates the use of cell-based therapies to treat severe brain conditions. Our primary areas of research include:
- Epilepsy Models and Treatment: Using engineered cell lines and stem cells to treat epilepsy in rodent models.
- Neurodegenerative Disorders: Researching the causes and potential treatments for epilepsy, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions using multiple methods including histological, biochemical, and molecular techniques.
- Neural Cell lines and Stem Cell Biology: Studying genetically engineered and embryonic stem cells as a source for cell replacement strategies, including genetic manipulation and neural differentiation.
- Cell Fusion experiments: Modeling the fusion between neuronal cells and stem cells in order to reveal the basic mechanisms that are involved.
Students learn:
- Cell culture techniques
- Biochemical assays
- Histopathology
- electrophysiology
- Modeling human neurological disease
Courses
Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (Bio 130)
Neurobiology (Bio 333)
Research Methods in Biology (Bio 290)
Select Publications
- Medical Research Archives, 2023,
- Kerry W. Thompson, Michelle Kanemori, Emily Kimes, Evthokia Hobbs, Jennifer Phan, Travis Wilson, Alex Wertheimer, Taylor Yoshida, Diana Flores-Barnett, Minji Kang, and Cameron Auyang
- Lucie Suchomelova, Kerry W. Thompson, Roger A. Baldwin, Jerome Niquet, and Claude G. Wasterlain
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- Jerome Niquet, Lucie Suchomelova, Kerry Thompson, Henrik Klitgaard, Alain Matagne, and Claude Wasterlain
- . Journal of Stem Cell Research and Transplantation, 2014
- Emily Kimes, Michele Kanemori, Daniella Amri, Ashley Noone, Jerika Barron, Ashley Saito, Omar Cortez-Toledo, Ellie Cortez-Toledo, David Arrizon, Johanna Quist, Yohualli Balderas, Melissa Miranda, Tina Tran, Frances Kim, and Kerry Thompson