Gabriela Popescu, Ph.D.

Dr. Popescu’s research focuses on understanding electrical and biochemical signaling through NMDA receptors. NMDA receptors are the principal glutamate-gated calcium channels in the central nervous system.  They are responsible for normal synaptic transmission and the healthy development and function of excitatory synapses. Their disfunction causes severe neuropathologies. This project will produce a quantitative operational model for NMDA receptors as necessary to develop conformation-specific modulators, which can control calcium flux independently of excitatory action, to unleash the enormous therapeutic potential of NMDA receptors.