Tristan Shuman, PhD
- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Neuroscience
Research Topics:
Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, Computational Neuroscience, Electrophysiology, Epilepsy, Extracellular Unit Recording, Hippocampus, Memory, Neuroscience, Seizure, Stem Cells, Systems Neuroscience, TransplantationTristan Shuman is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on how the brain produces precise neural activity to perform memory tasks and how these processes break down in models of disease such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. His lab uses in vivo calcium imaging with miniature microscopes as well as electrophysiology to investigate the network alterations that produce cognitive deficits and seizures in mouse models of disease. Dr. Shuman obtained his PhD in Experimental Psychology from University of California, San Diego, where he examined how addiction-related memory ensembles contributed to cocaine drug seeking. Prior to joining the faculty at Mount Sinai, Dr. Shuman was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles where he examined network alterations in epileptic mice.
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Neuroscience [NEU]Education
PhD, University of California, San Diego
University of California, Los Angeles
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2020
Shah Research Scholar -
2018
CURE Taking Flight Award -
2018
AES Junior Investigator Award -
2018
Nash Family Scholar -
2016
AES Young Investigator Award -
2015
AES Grass Young Investigator Award -
2014
Epilepsy Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
Open source miniature microscopes
Miniscope.org is an online open-source platform for developing and using miniature microscopes primarily used for calcium imaging in small rodents. As a primary developer and contributor to this effort, my lab is continuing to develop new innovations of this technology and sharing them with the neuroscience community.
Cognitive Deficits Associated with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a debilitating disorder that affects over 3 million Americans, with 30% of patients unresponsive to anti-epileptic drugs and often resorting to large resections of the brain. Therefore, it is critical to develop new therapeutic interventions to suppress seizures and cognitive deficits in epilepsy. My lab uses state of the art recording and manipulation techniques to examine how abnormal circuit processing leads to seizures and cognitive deficits in epilepsy and to understand how seizures and cognitive deficits can be suppressed with novel interventions. We use in vivo calcium imaging with miniature microscopes as well as in vivo electrophysiology with silicon probes to examine how the epileptic brain is altered in mice.
Interneuron and Network Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia characterized by memory loss and progressive cognitive impairments. Memory impairments in AD increase with age and are linked to hyperexcitability, circuit remodeling, and impaired interneuron function. However, it remains unclear how changes in interneuron function contribute to cognitive deficits. My lab is using in vivo electrophysiology with silicon probes to examine how hippocampal interneuron function is altered in AD model mice and investigate whether network dysfunction in young, pre-symptomatic mice can predict future memory impairments.
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. Shuman did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2022 and/or 2023: 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.