Students Profiles

Marla Bruns
MSIV
brunsm@upstate.edu

Department: Neuroscience & Physiology
Advisor: Michael Miller, Ph.D.

Research Interests

My favorite family of molecules (everyone should have one) is the neurotrophins. These proteins are involved in many cell signaling events that regulate neural development but also promote cell survival and synaptic plasticity in the adult.

I work in the lab of Michael Miller in the department of Neuroscience & Physiology. The lab focuses on the effects of alcohol exposure on cortex. Some students use models for fetal alcohol syndrome, but my studies focus on the adult. I use a model for chronic alcohol exposure, which is often associated with various symptoms of dementia.

My clinical interests include geriatrics or neurology... fields in which dementia are abundant. I also have been fortunate to be awarded a Ruth L. Kirchstein NRSA predoctoral fellowship to support my work.

Awards:

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 3 year pre-doctoral fellowship, 2004.

Awarded membership in the Gold Humanism Society. The Gold Humanism Honor Society honors medical students for “demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service.” 2007.

Publications:

Bruns MB, Miller MW. Neurotrophin ligand-receptor systems in somatosensory cortex of adult rat are affected by repeated episodes of ethanol. Exp Neurol. Apr;204(2):680-92, 2007.

Bruns MB, Miller MW. Functional nerve growth factor and trkA autocrine/paracrine circuits in adult rat cortex are revealed by episodic ethanol exposure and withdrawal. J Neurochem. Mar;100(5):1155-68, 2007.