Susan J Birren

Zalman Abraham Kekst Chair in Neuroscience

Departments/Programs

Biology
Neuroscience
Psychology
Volen National Center for Complex Systems

Degrees

University of California, Los Angeles, Ph.D.
University of California, Berkeley, B.A.

Expertise

Developmental neurobiology.

Profile

See my webpage at: http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/faculty/birren.html Webpage

Courses Taught

NBIO

146a

The Neurobiology of Human Disease

Awards and Honors

Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar (2018 - 2019)

National Alliance for Autism Research Grant (2003)

Whitehall Foundation Grant (1999 - 2000)

Pew Scholars Award in Biomedical Sciences (1996)

Whitehall Award Research Grant (1996 - 1997)

Damon Runyon-Walter WInchell Cancer Research Fund Postdoctoral (1987 - 1990)

Scholarship

Habecker B.A., Anderson, M.E., Birren, S.J., Fukuda, K., Herring, N., Hoover, D.B., Kanazawa, H., Paterson, D.J., Ripplinger, C.M.. "Molecular and cellular neurocardiology: Development, cellular and molecular adaptations to heart disease." J Physiol. 594. 14 (2016): 3853-3875.

Kreipke, R.E. and Birren, S.J.. "Innervating sympathetic neurons regulate heart size and the timing of cardiomyocyte cell cycle withdrawal.." J. Physiol. 593. (2015): 5057-5073.

Luther, J.A. and Birren, S.J.. "Neurotrophins regulate cholinergic synaptic transmission in cultured rat sympathetic neurons through a p75-dependent mechanism.." J. Neurophys. 109. 2 (2013): 485-496.

Luther, J.A., Enes, J., and Birren, S.J.. "Neurotrophins regulate cholinergic synaptic transmission in cultured rat sympathetic neurons through a p75-dependent mechanism.." J Neurophysiol. 109. 2 (2013): 485-96.

Neseliler, S. , Narayanan, D., Fortis-Santiago, Y., Katz, D.B., and Birren, S.J.. "Genetically induced cholinergic hyperinnervation enhances taste learning.." Front. Syst. Neurosci. 5. (2011): 9.

Vega, A., Luther J.A., Birren, S.J. and Morales, M.A.. "Neurotransmitter segregation in sympathetic neurons can be modulated by CNTF or long periods of culture.." Dev. Neurobiol. 70. 14 (2010): 913-928.

Dore JJ, Dewitt JC, Setty N, Donald MD, Joo E, Chesarone MA, Birren SJ.. "Multiple Signaling Pathways Converge to Regulate Bone-Morphogenetic-Protein-Dependent Glial Gene Expression." Dev Neurosci. 31. (2009): 473-486.

Luther JA, Birren SJ.. "p75 and TrkA signaling regulates sympathetic neuronal firing patterns via differential modulation of voltage-gated currents.." J. Neuroscience 29. 17 (2009): 5411-5424.

Luther, J.A. and Birren, S.J.. "Co-release of norepinephrine and acetylcholine by mammalian sympathetic neurons: regulation by target-derived signaling.." Co-existence and co-release of classical neurotransmitters. Ed. Gutierrez, R.. Springer-Verlag, 2009. 35-53.

Luther, J.A. and Birren, S.J.. "Neurotrophins and target interactions in the development and regulation of sympathetic neuron electrical and synaptic properties.." J. Autonom. Neurosci. 17. 151 (2009): 46-60.

Habecker, B.A., Bilimoria, P., Linick, C., Gritman, K., Woodward, W., and Birren, S.J.. "Regulation of cardiac innervation and function via the p75 neurotrophin receptor.." Autonomic Neurosci. 140. (2008): 40-48.

Moon, J. and Birren, S.J.. "Growth inhibitory effects of target contact on sympathetic neurons are mediated via regulation of a BMP-mediated program.." Dev. Biol. 315. (2008): 404-417.

Lin, P.-Y., Hinterneder, J., and Birren, S.J. 2007. Lin, P.-Y., Hinterneder, J.M., and Birren, S.J.. "Regulation of basal forebrain neuron development by neurotrophins and the p75 receptor.." J. Neurosci. 27. (2007): 12787-96.

Luther, J.A., and Birren, S.J.. "Nerve growth factor decreases potassium currents and alters repetitive firing in rat sympathetic neurons.." J. Neurophys. 96. (2006): 946-958.

Slonimsky, J.D., Mattaliano, M.D., Moon, J., Griffith, L.C., and Birren, S.J.. "Role for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the p75-mediated regulation of sympathetic cholinergic transmission.." PNAS 103. (2006): 2915-2919.

Birren,Susan J. "Inhibition of glial maturation by bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a neural crest-derived cell line." Dev. Neuroscience (2005): 37-48.

Birren,Susan J, Slonimsky, J.D., Yang, B., Hinterneder, J., and E. Nokes. "BDNF and CNTF mediate sympathetic neuron cholinergic differentiation via independent mechanisms." Mol. Cell. Neuroscience 23. (2003): 648-660.

Birren,Susan J and Yang, B., Slonimsky, J.D.. "A rapid switch in sympathetic neurotransmitter release properties mediated by the p75 receptor." Nature Neuroscience 5. (2002): 539-545.