Pablo M. Paez PhD

Pablo Paez

Pablo M. Paez
PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Ion channel kinetics and structure; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Neurobiology; Neuropharmacology

Contact Information
Institute for Myelin and Glia Exploration
NYS Center Of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences
701 Ellicott Street, Room B4-320
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 716-881-7823
Fax: 716-881-7823
ppaez@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Our research program focuses on brain development, studying the development of the oligodendroglial and astroglial cell lineages in the central nervous system in normal, mutant and transgenic mice. The primary focus in the laboratory is on ion channels that regulate specification, migration and differentiation of these glial cells.

The oligodendrocyte generates CNS myelin, which is essential for normal nervous system function. Thus, investigating the regulatory and signaling mechanisms that control its differentiation and the production of myelin is relevant to our understanding of brain development and of adult pathologies such as multiple sclerosis. We have recently discovered that voltage-gated Ca++ channels are necessary for normal myelination acting at multiple steps during oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) development, however nothing is known about its role in demyelination or remyelination events. Our research aims to determine if voltage-gated Ca++ channels plays a functional role in myelin repair. Using transgenic mice and new imaging techniques we are testing the hypothesis that voltage-gated Ca++ entry promotes OPC survival and proliferation in the remyelinating adult brain. Therefore, this work is relevant to developing means to induce remyelination in myelin degenerative diseases and for myelin repair in damaged nervous tissue.

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell of the human brain. They perform many functions, including biochemical support of endothelial cells that form the blood brain barrier, provision of nutrients to the nervous tissue and a role in the repair and scarring process of the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injuries. Our lab has made the novel finding of voltage-gated Ca++ channels function in astrocyte Ca++ homeostasis, and this has implications for plasticity in astrocyte development and for Ca++ regulation in general. We are testing the hypothesis that voltage-gated Ca++ entry plays a key role in astrocyte function and glial-neuronal interactions. We have generated a conditional knockout mice for voltage-gated Ca++ channels in astrocytes, these conditional knockout mice will allow the functional analysis of voltage-gated Ca++ channels in astroglia of the postnatal and adult brain. Analyzing such mice using a combination of behavioral, electrophysiological, imaging, and immunohistochemical techniques will provide new insights in our understanding of astroglial contribution to brain function.

These projects have been supported for many years by grants from the NIH and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Dev. Neuroscience, University of California at Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences (2010)
  • PhD, Neuroscience, University of Buenos Aires, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (2005)
  • BS, Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (2000)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2018-present)
  • Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2013–2018)
  • Research Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine (2010–2013)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine (2006–2010)
  • Research Assistant, Department of Biochemical Pathology, University of Buenos Aires School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (2000–2005)
  • Teaching & Research Assistant, Department of Biochemical Pathology, University of Buenos Aires School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry (2000–2004)

Awards and Honors:

  • Searle Scholar Award of the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2013)
  • International Society for Neurochemistry and European Society for Neurochemistry Travel Award (2011)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry, Young Investigator Educational Enhancement Award (2008)
  • BRI/Semel Institute Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellows Travel Award (2008)
  • Fine Science Tools Postdoctoral Scholars Travel Award (2008)
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society Fellowship Award (FG 1723A1/1) (2007)
  • UCLA Friends of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior Travel Award (2007)
  • International Society for Neurochemistry and American Society for Neurochemistry Travel Award (2007)
  • GLIA Stipend, VII European Meeting on Glia Cells in Health and Disease (2005)
  • IBRO-financed travel support, VII European Meeting on Glia Cells in Health and Disease (2005)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry Young Investigator Educational Enhancement Award (2005)
  • Committee for Aid and Education in Neurochemistry (CAEN) of the ISN, CAEN Fellowship (2004)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry, Young Latin American Scholars Award (2003)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry, Young Investigator Educational Enhancement Award (2002)

Research Expertise:

  • Neuroscience, Neurochemistry and Molecular Biology

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • December 2021–November 2027
    Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,993,750
  • February 2019–January 2024
    The peripheral nervous system: a window into Krabbe disease
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $1,929,000
  • July 2021–June 2023
    Role of Pacs2 in central nervous system myelination
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $439,000
  • December 2017–November 2022
    Muscarinic Receptor Type 3 Regulation of Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Differentiation
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $1,744,000
  • April 2019–March 2022
    Voltage-gated calcium channels in reactive astrocytes, a possible therapeutic target to reduce brain inflammation and promote remyelination in MS.
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $556,000
  • December 2019–November 2021
    Systematic discovery of critical oligodendrocyte transcription factors by a CRISPRi Screen
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $439,000
  • July 2018–June 2021
    A Novel Stress-Activated Inhibitor of Myelination
    US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $890,000
  • June 2013–May 2019
    Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,940,000
  • June 2014–May 2016
    Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $125,000
  • October 2011–September 2015
    Modulation of oligodendrocyte function and myelination by the golli proteins
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $571,000
  • October 2012–April 2013
    Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $353,000
  • October 2011–September 2012
    The Role of Voltage-operated Ca++ channels during oligodendrocyte development
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $44,000
  • October 2009–September 2012
    Goli-mpb gene expression in the nervous system
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $480,000
  • April 2007–March 2010
    Golli Proteins and calcium homeostasis in oligodendroglial maturation
    National Multiple Sclerosis Society
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $150,000
See all (4 more)

Journal Articles:

See all (44 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American Society for Neurochemistry, Council Member (2021–present)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry, Member of the Marian Kies Award Committee (2015–present)
  • American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (2013–present)
  • International Society for Neurochemistry (2007–present)
  • Society for Neuroscience (2006–present)
  • American Society for Neurochemistry (2001–present)

Presentations:

  • "Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels" McGill University, Killam Seminar Series and Neuro Lectures (2022)
  • "Modulation of oligodendrocyte development by voltage-operated calcium channels" University of California at Riverside, Division of Biomedical Sciences Seminar Series (2021)
  • "Iron metabolism in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, implications for myelination and remyelination" Annual Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry (2021)
  • "The role of voltage-gated Ca++ channels in oligodendrocyte-neuronal interactions" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2020)
  • "Voltage-gated calcium channels in reactive astrocytes, a possible therapeutic target to reduce brain inflammation and promote remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis" University of Buenos Aires, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry Seminar Series (2020)
  • "The function of DMT1, ferritin and transferrin receptor in myelination and remyelination" Annual Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry (2020)
  • "Selective deletion of voltage-gated Ca++ channels in reactive astrocytes attenuate astrogliosis and promote myelin regeneration after demyelination of the mouse brain" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2019)
  • "The role of voltage-gated calcium channels in oligodendrocyte development and myelination" Biennial International Society for Neurochemistry Satellite Meeting on Myelin Biology (2019)
  • "Voltage-gated calcium channels in reactive astrocytes, a possible therapeutic target to reduce brain inflammation and promote remyelination in Multiple Sclerosis" Nantong University, International Academic Forum on Neuroinflammation and Psychopharmacology (2019)
  • "The role of voltage-gated calcium channels in oligodendrocyte development and myelination" CUNY, Advanced Science Research Center, Second Annual Glial Symposium (2018)
  • "The function of glial calcium channels in the development of the central nervous system" Latin American School on Glial Cells, International Brain Research Organization (2017)
  • "The role of voltage-gated calcium channels in oligodendrocyte development and myelination" Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Seminar Series (2017)
  • "The Divalent Metal Transporter 1 (DMT1) is required for adequate oligodendrocyte progenitor cell maturation and myelination" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2017)
  • "Voltage-gated ion channels and the myelination of the postnatal brain" University of Buenos Aires, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry Seminar Series (2017)
  • "A role for voltage-operated calcium channels in astrocyte activation" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2015)
  • "A role for voltage-operated calcium channels in the development of oligodendrocytes" University at Buffalo, Department of Neurology Seminar Series (2014)
  • "The role of golli-mbp in the development of the central nervous system" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2014)
  • "The role of voltage-operated calcium channels in the myelination of the postnatal brain" McMaster University, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior (2014)
  • "Conditional deletion of the L-type calcium channel Cav1.2 in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells delay postnatal myelination in mice" University at Buffalo, Developmental Genomics Group Seminar Series (2013)
  • "Conditional deletion of the L-type calcium channel Cav1.2 in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells delay postnatal myelination in mice" University at Buffalo, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Seminar Series (2013)
  • "Modulation of oligodendrocyte function and myelination by the golli proteins" Annual National Multiple Sclerosis Society Research Forum (2011)
  • "The function of golli proteins in myelination and remyelination" Annual Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry (2011)
  • "Molecular regulation of oligodendrocyte developmen" Annual Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry (2009)
  • "Golli myelin basic proteins regulate oligodendroglial progenitor cell migration through voltage-gated Ca++ influx" University of California at Los Angeles, Department of Neurobiology Seminar Series (2009)
  • "The role of golli proteins in oligodendrocyte development" University of California at Los Angeles, Mental Retardation Research Center Annual Retreat (2008)
  • "The overexpression of human transferrin enhances the differentiation of two oligodendroglial cell lines" Annual Meeting of the Argentine Society for Neurochemistry, Young Investigator Lecture (2005)
See all (16 more)

Service Activities:

  • Member of the Search Committee for the New Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2020–2021)
  • Member of the Committee on Promotions to Academic (Tenurial) Rank, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2020–present)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), regular member of the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Glia Study Section; Grant Reviewer (2018–present)
  • Member of the Faculty Council, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo (2016–present)
  • ASN Neuro; ASN Neuro (Editorial Board Member) (2015–present)
  • Brain Research; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • BMC Biology; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Communications Biology; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Developmental Biology; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Developmental Neuroscience; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Glia; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Journal of Neuroscience; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Journal of Neuroscience Research; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Journal of Neuroinflammation; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Molecular Neurobiology; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Neurobiology of Disease; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Neuropharmacology; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Neuroscience Bulletin; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Stem Cell Research and Therapy; Manuscript Reviewer (2015–present)
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Biomedical Review Committee; Grant Reviewer (2015–present)
  • Member of the Graduate Student Educational Committee, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Member of the Graduate Student Educational Committee (2014–2016)
  • Member of the Developmental Genomics Group, Western New York Stem Cell Culture and Analysis Center (WNYSTEM) (2013–present)
  • Member of the Graduate Student Admission Committee, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo; Member of the Graduate Student Admission Committee (2013–present)
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pilot Glial Committee; Grant Reviewer (2010–2015)

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Contact Information

Institute for Myelin and Glia Exploration
NYS Center Of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences
701 Ellicott Street, Room B4-320
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: 716-881-7823
Fax: 716-881-7823
ppaez@buffalo.edu