Good Glia: The increasing understanding of glial importance in brain function
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Join us for a great biology-focused talk by senior scientist Dr. Kelly Monk!
Although historically understudied compared to neurons, it is now clear that glial cells are critical regulators of every major aspect of nervous system function. Glial cells constitute at least half of the cells in the human brain and perform many essential roles to support neurons, including controlling extracellular ion and neurotransmitter levels, providing neurons with energy sources, and ensheathing axons to enable rapid transmission of action potentials with minimal metabolic cost.
Beyond these key supportive functions, recent studies have revealed that glia play an active and instructive role in modulating the function of neural circuits; glial cells possess receptors for neurotransmitters and can release neuroactive compounds that influence neural firing, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. These advances have been revolutionary in how we think about the brain, and we can no longer afford to focus on neurons alone if we wish to truly understand nervous system development, function, and disease. This lecture will highlight key roles of glia in the brain and describe ongoing work in the Monk lab aimed at dissecting the molecular mechanisms that control glial cell development and function.
Kelly Monk is a senior scientist, head of the Kelly Monk Lab, and co-director of the Vollum Institute. After earning her B.S. degree in Biochemistry from Elmira College in 2001, Monk pursued doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati under the mentorship of Nancy Ratner and was awarded her Ph.D. in Cell Biology in 2006. She did postdoctoral training in the lab of William Talbot at Stanford University School of Medicine. In 2011, she was appointed as an assistant professor in the Department of Developmental Biology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and was promoted to associate professor in 2016. Monk joined the Vollum Institute in 2017 and was named director of the Vollum/OHSU Neuroscience Graduate Program in 2018.