Dr. Roberto Malinow

Biography

Roberto Malinow is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus whose research focuses on understanding how the brain forms and stores memories. His laboratory investigates the neuronal activity that controls the strength of communication between neurons at sites called synapses. Synaptic plasticity is believed to underlie the formation and storage of memories, and these synapses are key sites affected in diseases of cognition. Malinow aims to identify critical steps and targets in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease through an in-depth understanding of synaptic plasticity, with the ultimate goal of developing treatments to prevent the disease. He employs a combination of techniques including patch clamp electrophysiology, two-photon laser scanning microscopy, and molecular biology to examine the function and plasticity of synapses, as well as to apply these techniques in animal models under both normal and disease conditions. His recent research has focused on the biology of postsynaptic receptors, revealing that changes in the number of synaptic receptors play a critical role in the mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity. His laboratory has also expanded its studies to include disorders related to diseases like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and depression, exploring the effects of A-beta peptides and their role in synaptic transmission and cognitive decline.

Research Interests