David Weinshenker, Ph. D.

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

Emory University School of Medicine

Lab URL: 

https://med.emory.edu/departments/human-genetics/research/weinshenker/index.html

Areas of Interest: 

Alzheimer's disease, catecholaminergic system, locus coeruleus

Biography & Research: 

I received my Ph.D. in Genetics with Dr. James H. Thomas at the University of Washington in 1997, where I studied voltage-gated potassium channel mutations in C. elegans. I did my postdoc in the laboratory of Dr. Richard D. Palmiter at the University of Washington, where I received training in transgenic and knockout mouse technology, molecular biology, and catecholamine neurobiology and neurochemistry. I have been in the Department of Human Genetics at Emory since 2002 as an Assistant Professor (2002-2007), an Associate Professor (2008-2012), and full Professor (2013-present). The focus of my research program is to study the role of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system in behavior and neurochemistry using genetically engineered rodents. We study models of several different diseases, including neurodegenerative disease, affective disorders, and drug addiction. Specifically, I have been studying the locus coeruleus in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, for over 15 years. I am also the Scientific Director of the Emory School of Medicine Rodent Behavioral Core facility and the Director of the Research Education Component of the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where I am also on its Executive Committee.