Paul Slesinger, PhD
- PROFESSOR | Neuroscience
Research Topics:
Addiction, Biophysics, Electrophysiology, Neurophysiology, Neuroscience, Protein Trafficking & Sorting, Signal Transduction, Synaptic PlasticityPaul Slesinger PhD is Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Behavior. Our long-term objective is to discover new drugs for treating addiction to drugs of abuse and alcohol. We focus on changes in neuronal excitability with drugs, and take a broad approach of combining structural biology, biochemistry, electrophysiology and behavior. Visit Paul Slesinger's Laboratory of Membrane Excitability & Disease for more details.
Multi-Disciplinary Training Areas
Neuroscience [NEU], Pharmacology and Therapeutics Discovery [PTD]Education
BA, Reed College
PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco
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2006
NARSAD Independent Investigator Award -
2003
McKnight Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award -
2001
Human Frontiers Science Program Young Investigator Grant -
1999
McKnight Scholars Award in Neuroscience -
1998
Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
I) Neural circuits underlying addiction – role of potassium channels.
Project: Investigating the structural and molecular determinants of GIRK channel gating and modulation. Project: Investigating the neuronal activity and neurotransmitter release in the reward circuitry during alcohol intake, using fiber photometry to measure fluorescence in freely moving animals that express genetically encoded calcium and neurotransmitter indicators. Project: Investigating the physiological roles of the GIRK channels in the brain disorders, and developing pharmacological tools to modulate GIRK channels in these disorders.
III) Human neuronal models of schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder
Project: Investigating the role of GIRK2 function in excitatory neurons in the context of alcohol use disorder, using hiPSC-derived neurons and a combination of electrophysiology, calcium imaging, and transcriptomic analysis. Project: Investigating the impact of the effects of polygenic alterations related to alcohol use disorder (AUD) on the human neuronal function using iPSC-derived excitatory neurons from control individuals and AUD patients.
II) Advancing novel techniques for elucidating neuropeptide signaling in the brain
Project: We are developing tools for measuring the real-time release of neuropeptides in freely behaving animals using new biosensors (i.e., CNiFERs) and custom-made Miniscopes. Project: We are developing nanovesicles engineered for photorelease of drugs in vivo in real-time.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Slesinger did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2020 and/or 2021: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.