PhD, The University of Kansas, 1983

Phone: (732) 235-5393
Fax: (732) 235-4029

email: varia@umdnj.edu

Research interests:
Role of trophic factors in models of learning and depression: effect of trophins and neuropeptides on neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Transcriptional regulation during learning and neurodegenerative disorders.

Selected Publications 1

Ring, R.H., Alder, J., Fennell, M., Kouranova, E., Black, I.B., and Thakker-Varia, S. (2006) Transcriptional profiling of BDNF-induced neuronal plasticity: a novel role for nociceptins in hippocampal neurite outgrowth. J. Neurobiol. 66(4), 361-377.

Alder, J*., Thakker-Varia, S*., Crozier, R.A., Shaheen, A., Plummer, M.R., and Black, I.B. (2005) Early presynaptic and late postsynaptic components contribute independently to BDNF-induced synaptic plasticity. J. Neurosci., 25(21), 3080-3085. * Equal contribution

Alder, J*., Thakker-Varia, S*. Bangasser D.A., Kuroiwa, M., Plummer, M.R., Shors, T.J., and Black, I.B. (2003) BDNF-induced gene expression reveals novel actions of VGF in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. J. Neurosci., 23(34), 10800-10808. * Equal contribution

Thakker-Varia, S*., Alder, J*., Crozier, R.A., Plummer, M.R. and Black, I.B. (2001) Rab3A is required for brain-derived neurotrophic factor-induced synaptic plasticity: transcriptional analysis at the population and single-cell levels. J. Neurosci., 21(17), 6782-6790. * Equal contribution

Thakker-Varia, S., Elkabes, S., Peng, L., Sherwood, A.C. and Black, I.B. (1998) Gene expression in activated brain microglia: Identification of proteinase inhibitor that increases microglial cell number. Molecular Brain Research, 56(1-2), 99-107.