Prior to joining NYMC, Eliana Scemes, Ph.D., held faculty positions at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil and later at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY.  

Her research covers purinergic ATP-mediated signaling, one of the most prominent mechanisms by which astrocytes interact with neurons.  The non-lytic release ATP occurs through multiple mechanisms, including pannexin1 (Panx1) channels. Pannexins are abundantly expressed in the CNS, both in glia and neurons, where they have been implicated in ischemic neuronal death, neuro-inflammation, and epileptiform activity. Studies from my laboratory found that Panx1 channels mediate the release of ATP that prolongs status epilepticus (SE). A major question that remains to be answered, however, regards whether astrocytes or neurons are the cells that contribute to Panx1-mediated seizures.

The goals of her ongoing research are to determine the extent to which astrocyte and neuronal Panx1 contribute to status epilepticus by releasing ATP and to characterize the biophysical properties and signal transduction events mediating Panx1 channel activation in solitary astrocytes and cultured neurons.

Methods used to evaluate the extent to which astrocytic and neuronal Panx1 channels contribute to seizures, includes field potential recordings from cortical-hippocampal slices derived from wild-type and transgenic mice, behavioral   monitoring, and electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings of pharmaco-induced SE.   Methods to identify the domains and provide insights to the signaling molecules involved in Panx1 activation we perform patch clamp recordings from Panx1- null astrocytes and neurons expressing Panx1 mutants and/or peptides spanning specific domains of Panx1 that are relevant for channel activation.

Education

• M.S., Zoology, Clinical Research Methods, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Ph.D., Physiology, Bioscience Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Postdoctoral in the Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research

Dr. Scemes' laboratory has been studying the role of gap junctions (connexins and pannexins) in pathophysiological states of the nervous system. Using different animal models of CNS disorders, they evaluate the role of these proteins in status epilepticus, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), in ischemia, neuroAIDS, and inflammatory pain. The techniques used in her laboratory include various in in vivo, in situ and in vitro systems, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, total internal reflection fluorescence, calcium and confocal imaging.

Dr. Scemes' research focuses on astrocyte-neuron communication, particularly on the contribution of gap junctions (connexins and pannexins) and purinergic signaling to CNS pathophysiology. At present, her research project deals with the contribution of pannexin to astrocyte and neuronal ATP signaling and its implications for seizures.

Recent Publications

Dr. Scemes has published 62 original studies, 13 review articles, 17 book chapters, and edited one book.

Publications

View All Publications

Professional Service

• Research Support Committee
• Ph.D. Admissions Committee
• Graduate Faculty Council
• Reviewer for Bridge and Seed Funding Grant Program TU

Teaching Responsibilities

• Neuroscience