2014 Undergraduate Summer Research Program Participant

Home Department: English
Supported by: Bio-X
Mentor: Gary Steinberg, Neurosurgery

Alex's research in Dr. Steinberg's lab focuses on the effects of optogenetic neuronal stimulation, which is a technique that utilizes light-activated microbial proteins in order to stimulate or inhibit specific cell types with millisecond scale temporal precision. Specifically, he is using the optogentic technique to stimulate the contralesional cerebellar dentate nucleus in order to enhance neuronal plasticity and promote functional recovery after stroke.

Poster presented at the Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Symposium on August 27, 2014:

The Effects of Optogenetic Neuronal Stimulation of the Contralesional Cerebellar Dentate Nucleus on Functional Recovery Post-Stroke

Alex Bautista1,2, Michelle Cheng1,2, Eric Wang1,2, Shunsuke Ishizaka1,2, Aatman Shah1,2, Gary Steinberg1,2
[Department of Neurosurgery1 and Stanford Stroke Center2, Stanford University]