Dr. Kate O'connor Giles

Biography

Kate O'Connor-Giles is a Provost's Professor in Brain Science at Brown University, where her research focuses on understanding how neurons communicate and establish synaptic connections that influence behavior, especially in the context of neurological disorders. Her work combines techniques such as genetics, multi-level imaging, and electrophysiology to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind synapse formation and plasticity. Her studies, primarily conducted in the model organism Drosophila, reveal insights applicable across diverse species due to the conservation of synaptic genes. Recent research includes identifying novel synaptic proteins and developing genome engineering tools to advance the study of synapses in vivo. O'Connor-Giles has received various honors, including the McKnight Foundation Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award, and has been recognized as a trainer in multiple graduate programs in Neuroscience and Molecular Biology. She has contributed significantly to understanding the properties and regulation of neurotransmitter release and the intricate relationship between synaptic structure and function. With a commitment to investigating the genetic underpinnings of behaviors affected by synaptic dysfunction, her findings have implications for treating a range of neurological disorders.

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